The anonymous reader is wrong. A supernova would be accompanied by a large amount of shockwaves through the star, and a large amount of pressure waves. There would be no sound, in the sense that there would be no neurological interpretations of these phenomena, but they would still happen.
The question for me is how long does the bad stuff last?. If the answer if less than 12 hours then I will be hoping it happens just after Betelgeuse drops below the horizon at 144 degrees east.
First up, let me preface this by saying a supernova happening at six hundred light years is probably no big deal. Probably. However, there is some evidence that gamma ray bursts might be the product of a sufficiently massive star dying and producing a black hole, in which case we could be in trouble if we were struck be such an event at close range.
But having the bulk of the earth between yourself and such an event would not save you. Remember that we're talking about enough energy here
That and the ionizing radiation would destroy the ozone layer for a time. I have heard estimates that it would take a decade to 1000 years to fully regenerate. In that time, the sun would really harm life on earth. (How much harm depends on who you ask.)
Yes (Score:5, Informative)
The anonymous reader is wrong. A supernova would be accompanied by a large amount of shockwaves through the star, and a large amount of pressure waves. There would be no sound, in the sense that there would be no neurological interpretations of these phenomena, but they would still happen.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:5, Informative)
Won't matter much.
First up, let me preface this by saying a supernova happening at six hundred light years is probably no big deal. Probably. However, there is some evidence that gamma ray bursts might be the product of a sufficiently massive star dying and producing a black hole, in which case we could be in trouble if we were struck be such an event at close range.
But having the bulk of the earth between yourself and such an event would not save you. Remember that we're talking about enough energy here
Re: (Score:2)
That and the ionizing radiation would destroy the ozone layer for a time. I have heard estimates that it would take a decade to 1000 years to fully regenerate. In that time, the sun would really harm life on earth. (How much harm depends on who you ask.)
Re: (Score:2)
So I guess it'll only weaken the ozone layer.
And that's no big deal - the people in Australia and NZ appear to manage fine with ozone holes...
Re:Yes (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)