It might only last for a few weeks, but we might be able to witness a celestial even that doesn’t come around too often. We may be able to see a sister star, along with our own, if Betelgeuse, one of the night sky’s brightest stars, continues to loose mass, collapses, and goes super-nova. That event would pretty much dwarf everything I’ve ever seen in the sky with my own eyes. Scientists aren’t sure exactly when it would happen and the star’s explosion could also cause a neutron star or result in the formation of a black hole, but it sounds like they are leaning toward Betelgeuse continuing to loose mass and eventually going super-nova.
Had no idea that this might be imminent. Makes my lifetime resolve to get a good quality astronomical telescope even more urgent. The event sounds mind-blowing – and such phenomena never fail to take my breath away.
I thought our very nearly total solar eclipse of 1999, seen best here in southern England, was the most awe-inspiring moment in my lifetime (In a totally clear sky a very thin sliver of sun remaining, surrounded by sky gradually turning to a very deep blue. – incredible!)
Btw: Did you not see the visit of Halley's comet in 1986?
It will be an exciting event Ray. I did get to see it and I'm hoping I'll get to see it again. I'll be 90 then, but my family tends to live longer than most.