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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1349383/Betelgeuse-second-sun-Earth-supernova-turns-night-day.html

 

Earth 'to get second sun' as supernova turns night into day

By David Gardner
Last updated at 8:12 PM on 10th March 2011

The Earth could soon have a second sun, at least for a week or two.

The cosmic phenomenon will happen when one of the brightest stars in the night sky explodes into a supernova.

And, according to a report yesterday, the most stunning light show in the planet’s history could happen as soon as this year.

Cosmic phenomenon: The earth could soon have two suns when one of the brightest stars in the night sky explodes into a supernova

Cosmic phenomenon: The Earth could soon see two suns - just like Luke Skywalker saw on Tatooine in the Star Wars film (pictured)

Earth will undoubtedly have a front row seat when the dying red supergiant star Betelgeuse finally blows itself into oblivion.

The explosion will be so bright that even though the star in the Orion constellation is 640 light-years away, it will still turn night into day and appear like there are two suns in the sky for a few weeks.

The only real debate is over exactly when it will happen.

In stellar terms, Betelgeuse is predicted to crash and burn in the very near future. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to rush out and buy sunglasses.

Brad Carter, Senior Lecturer of Physics at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia, claimed yesterday that the galactic blast could happen before 2012 – or any time over the next million years.

‘This old star is running out of fuel in its centre,’ Dr Carter told te Austalian website news.com.au.

‘This fuel keeps Betelgeuse shining and supported. When this fuel runs out the star will literally collapse in upon itself and it will do so very quickly.

‘This is the final hurrah for the star. It goes bang, it explodes, it lights up - we’ll have incredible brightness for a brief period of time for a couple of weeks and then over the coming months it begins to fade and then eventually it will be very hard to see at all,’ he added.

Look out: Betelgeuse, which is in the Orion constellation, is set to blow itself into oblivion - which will give the effect of two suns in the sky for us on Earth

Look out: Betelgeuse, which is in the Orion constellation, is set to blow itself into oblivion - which will give the effect of two suns in the sky for us on Earth

The Internet is abuzz with doomsday theories linking the supernova to the Mayan calendar’s prediction of an Armageddon in 2012, fuelled by the association of the word ‘Betelgeuse’ with the devil.

But experts claimed that even if the big bang is looming, it will still happen way too far from Earth to do us any harm.

‘When a star goes bang, the first we will observe of it is a rain of tiny particles called nuetrinos,’ said Dr Carter.

‘They will flood through the Earth and bizarrely enough, even though the supernova we see visually will light up the night sky, 99% of the energy in the supernova is released in these particles that will come through our bodies and through the Earth with absolutely no harm whatsoever.’

When it happens, the Betelgeuse supernova will almost certainly be the most dramatic ever seen.

It is the ninth brightest star in the night sky and the second brightest in the constellation of Orion, outshining its neighbour Rigel – or Beta Orionis – only very rarely.

It’s distinct orange-red colour makes it easy to spot in the night sky.

If it was at the centre of our solar system, its surface would extend past the asteroid belt, wholly engulfing Mercury, Venus, Mars and the Earth.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1349383/Betelgeuse-second-sun-Earth-supernova-turns-night-day.html#ixzz1HgYVXL23

 

http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/will-betelgeuse-really-become-second-sun-1260/
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Earthquake Safety

The following information is taken from: www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/index.shtm:
Before The Earthquake Strikes
  • Pick "safe places" in each room of your home. A safe place could be under a sturdy table or desk or against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases, or tall furniture that could fall on you. The shorter the distance to move to safety, the less likely you will be injured. Injury statistics show that people moving as little as 10 feet during an earthquake's shaking are most likely to be injured. Also pick safe places, in your office, school and other buildings you are frequently in. 
  • Practice drop, cover, and hold-on in each safe place. Drop under a sturdy desk or table and hold on to one leg of the table or desk. Protect your eyes by keeping your head down. Practice these actions so that they become an automatic response. When an earthquake or other disaster occurs, many people hesitate, trying to remember what they are supposed to do. Responding quickly and automatically may help protect you from injury.
  • Practice drop, cover, and hold-on at least twice a year. Frequent practice will help reinforce safe behavior.
  • Wait in your safe place until the shaking stops, and then check to see if you are hurt. You will be better able to help others if you take care of yourself first, then check the people around you. Move carefully and watch out
    for things that have fallen or broken, creating hazards. Be ready for additional earthquakes called aftershocks.
  • Be on the lookout for fires. Fire is the most common earthquake-related hazard, due to broken gas lines, damaged electrical lines or appliances, and previously contained fires or sparks being released.
  • If you must leave a building after the shaking stops, use the stairs, not the elevator. Earthquakes can cause fire alarms and fire sprinklers to go off.
  • You will not be certain whether there is a real threat of fire. As a precaution, use the stairs.
  • If you're outside in an earthquake, stay outside. Move away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines. Crouch down and cover your head. Many injuries occur within 10 feet of the entrance to buildings. Bricks, roofing, and other materials can fall from buildings, injuring persons nearby. Trees, streetlights, and power lines may also fall, causing damage or injury.  [Consider sitting or lying on the ground to avoid a broken ankle or wrist if you should fall while crouching (especially if you are older and your bones are more fragile.]
  • Inform guests, babysitters, and caregivers of your plan. Everyone in your home should know what to do if an earthquake occurs. Assure yourself that others will respond properly even if you are not at home during the earthquake.
  • Get training. Take a first aid class from your local Red Cross chapter. Get training on how to use a fire extinguisher from your local fire department. Keep your training current. Training will help you to keep calm and
    know what to do when an earthquake occurs.
  • Discuss earthquakes with your family. Everyone should know what to do in case all family members are not together. Discussing earthquakes ahead of time helps reduce fear and anxiety and lets everyone know how to respond.
  • Talk with your insurance agent. Different areas have different requirements for earthquake protection. Study locations of active faults, and if you are at risk, consider purchasing earthquake insurance.
  • If you are near a coastline, as soon as it is safe to do so, head for higher ground QUICKLY.  This is also true for any large body of water.  History shows those near the Mississippi River during the New Madrid earthquake of 1811-1812 saw a large devastating wave come up from the river.

There is also earthquake safety information called the Triangle of Life that went viral through email a while back.  There is disagreement whether this information is correct.  Read the comments about it at http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/triangle.asp and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_of_Life.  Then read Doug Copp's story in the link right below this one.  You have to decide, but Mr. Copp does present a strong argument for the typical corporate corruption routine, as to why his method is being black-balled.

Read more…
"Kyodo News reported on Wednesday that Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) has observed mysterious neutron beams coming from the plant 13 times since the initial earthquake and tsunami. These neutron beams, which reportedly measure
roughly one mile, may be evidence that uranium and plutonium have already been released from the plant's damaged reactors and fuel rods as spent nuclear fuels allegedly release such beams through nuclear fission. Officials have been
observing these beams since March 13 and are just now disclosing this important information on March 23 (http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/20...).
Read more…

Breach In Reactor Suspected At Japanese Nuclear Plant

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_japan_earthquake

 

Reactor Core May Be Breached At Damaged Fukushima Plant

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-22/nuclear-plant-s-fuel-rods-damaged-leaking-into-sea-tokyo-electric-says.html

 

Japan Raises Possibility of Breach In Reactor Vessel

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/world/asia/26japan.html?_r=1

 

Japanese Authorities Admit Deadly MOX Plutonium Reactor Is Leaking

http://www.prisonplanet.com/japanese-authorities-admit-deadly-mox-plutonium-reactor-is-leaking.html

"Reactor number 3 runs  on MOX or Mixed Oxide fuel, a mixture of plutonium and uranium. Plutonium is  the most deadly radioactive isotope known to man, and MOX is two million times  more deadly than normal enriched uranium. The Half-life of Plutonium-239 in MOX  is 24,000 years and just a few milligrams of P-239 escaping in a smoke plume  will contaminate soil for tens of thousands of years"

 

 

 

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