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If Eta Carinae went supernova about 7500 years ago, and the light was just reaching Earth what kind of effects?
could we expect? Would it be visible/invisible in daylight, irradiate and kill us all, what sort of things?
Please support your answer with references or equations. Thanks!
2 Answers
- 8 years agoFavorite Answer
No, for a couple reasons. 1. The gamma ray burst expected from the supernova is expected to travel in directions not toward the Earth. 2. The distance is far enough to potentially be seen during daylight, but so are Venus and reflections from the Iridium satellites. 3. The Earth's atmosphere and magnetosphere should shield us on the surface from the radiation. The astronauts in space, and satellites orbiting Earth may however, experience serious amounts of radiation.
See the first link below for Eta Car info, and the second for Iridium Satellite Flare info.
- Anonymous8 years ago
Yes, we would be able to see it during the day (of course, only from the southern hemisphere).
No, it would not kill us - its rotational axis is not pointed at us so any gamma ray burst would not strike the Earth.
Damage from other radiation would likely be restricted to the upper atmosphere, the ozone layer, and spacecraft (including satellites) and any astronauts in space.
