Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse!!!

[Lucas]

Betelgeuse going supernova. (http://news.discovery.com/space/dont-panic-betelgeuse-wont-explode-in-2012.html)

I sure hope this happens in my lifetime, would be 'super' neat to watch go down.

[David Jamieson]

yeah it's wickedly fascinating.
and weird.
and mindboggling at the same time.


For one thing, when we see it, it's already been over for 640 years! Very cool.

For another, considering that suns/stars are already in a state of constant explosion, how do they account for the even bigger explosion that occurs when it runs out of fuel?

Put your theories on tha bar!