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BY STEVEN SPARKMAN
You're watching multisource science news from Newsy
The red giant star Betelgeuse is getting an unexpected boost in fame. Orion's right shoulder will give us a spectacular light show when it goes supernova, but recent reports have tied it to 2012 Mayan calendar predictions -- without any proof. News.com.au's story seems to be where it all started.
"Yes, any day now we see a second sun light up the sky, if only for a matter of weeks. The infamous red super-giant star in Orion's nebula - Betelgeuse - is predicted to go gangbusters and the impending super-nova may reach Earth before 2012..."
And a wave of stories about the star's destruction followed -- repeating the 2012 speculation and playing up how bright the star would become.
The Daily Mail headline read: "Earth 'to get second sun' as supernova turns night into day."
The Herald Sun said: "Tatooine's twin suns - coming to a planet near you just as soon as Betelgeuse explodes."
And at the Huffington Post: "Two suns? Twin stars could be visible from Earth by 2012."
This left astronomers trying to explain that 2012 was no more likely a date than any other, including Discover's Phil Plait.
"Betelgeuse may explode tomorrow night, or it may not go kerblooie until the year 100,000 A.D. We don't know. ... And clearly, the original article was really trying to tie in the 2012 date to this, even when it has nothing to do with anything."
And the idea that Earth would have two suns, like in Star Wars? Fox News, quoting a physics professor, throws cold water on that dream as well.
"Betelgeuse will blow, in an explosion that will be visible from Earth, though it won't be so bright as to appear like a 'second sun.' ... 'One could roughly expect it to be as bright as a full moon and gradually fade away over a few months.'"
So what's your take on this short-lived 2012 prediction? Was it harmless speculation, or did it get your Star Wars hopes up? Leave us your thoughts in our comments section.
Get multisource video news analysis from Newsy
Transcript by Newsy
BY STEVEN SPARKMAN
You're watching multisource science news from Newsy
The red giant star Betelgeuse is getting an unexpected boost in fame. Orion's right shoulder will give us a spectacular light show when it goes supernova, but recent reports have tied it to 2012 Mayan calendar predictions -- without any proof. News.com.au's story seems to be where it all started.
"Yes, any day now we see a second sun light up the sky, if only for a matter of weeks. The infamous red super-giant star in Orion's nebula - Betelgeuse - is predicted to go gangbusters and the impending super-nova may reach Earth before 2012..."
And a wave of stories about the star's destruction followed -- repeating the 2012 speculation and playing up how bright the star would become.
The Daily Mail headline read: "Earth 'to get second sun' as supernova turns night into day."
The Herald Sun said: "Tatooine's twin suns - coming to a planet near you just as soon as Betelgeuse explodes."
And at the Huffington Post: "Two suns? Twin stars could be visible from Earth by 2012."
This left astronomers trying to explain that 2012 was no more likely a date than any other, including Discover's Phil Plait.
"Betelgeuse may explode tomorrow night, or it may not go kerblooie until the year 100,000 A.D. We don't know. ... And clearly, the original article was really trying to tie in the 2012 date to this, even when it has nothing to do with anything."
And the idea that Earth would have two suns, like in Star Wars? Fox News, quoting a physics professor, throws cold water on that dream as well.
"Betelgeuse will blow, in an explosion that will be visible from Earth, though it won't be so bright as to appear like a 'second sun.' ... 'One could roughly expect it to be as bright as a full moon and gradually fade away over a few months.'"
So what's your take on this short-lived 2012 prediction? Was it harmless speculation, or did it get your Star Wars hopes up? Leave us your thoughts in our comments section.
Get multisource video news analysis from Newsy
Transcript by Newsy
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