Simulate stars 1,000 times larger than the sun exploding

From Earth, we can observe the supernova explosion of the red giant Betelgeuse when it dies at the end of its life.

Researchers at the University of California simulate what would happen if the red giant Betelgeuse died and exploded in a supernova explosion. They conducted research based on the fact that this super-massive star is about to reach the end of its life. The research results were published in the Astrophysical Journal on February 28.

Simulate Betelgeuse star in supernova explosion.(Photo: IB Times).

Betelgeuse is in the constellation Orion, about 700 light-years from Earth. Observations show that Betelgeuse is about 1,000 times larger than the Sun. Over the past two years, scientists have noticed that the brightness of the star is constantly decreasing. This could be a harbinger of its death. They predict that when this happens, the star will collapse under its own gravity, creating a powerful star explosion called a supernova .

Considering the size and position of the star, the team thinks that we can see the supernova Betelgeuse from Earth. It will appear as a bright streak in the sky for a long time. The strength of the explosion will depend on the mass of the star. In the case of Betelgeuse, the researchers thought the supernova explosion would be like a static star, according to Jared Goldberg, who led the research.

Earlier, scientist Emily Levesque and colleagues at the University of Washington concluded Betelgeuse would not detonate soon. The decrease in brightness of Betelgeuse is caused by the outer layer of material fired from the star. The team explained that this is a natural process, releasing dust particles around the star."The red giant sometimes releases material from the surface, forming a dense layer of dust around it. As it cools and disperses, dust particles will absorb part of the light that reaches the Earth and interfere with range. observe, " Levesque explained.

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