It’s worth noting that when scientists talk about how it’s “about to go” supernova, they are saying within the next 10,000 to 100,000 years at the very least.
Dr Becky covered that paper in her video, where the new paper was suggesting within several decades to a hundred or so years. However that is also all based on simulations from observations.
I so hope we see this in in the next 30 - 50 years. Would so amazing and informative. Obviously, hoping it doesn’t hurt though. :D
I hope that’s true! We’re about at the perfect distance from Betelgeuse; far enough away that it won’t hurt us, but close enough to get a great fireworks show!
I’m not sure about not hurting part. Yes, it will not cause a full on extinction, but extra night brightness will indeed kill some nocturnal species. Even caretta carettas might go extinct due to their newborns rely on stars for finding the sea.