About Patrick Weiler Expertise I`d be pleased to answer questions about any aspect of astronomy, particularly those related to cosmology, astrophysics, and planetary sciences. I can also provide reliable information on unique topics like dark energy, dark matter, black holes, etc.,.
Experience Teacher, adult after-hours education at local community college, including frequent "star parties." I have my own telescope system, and continue to stay apace of recent developments and emerging theories in the field.
Education/Credentials BA, liberal arts with emphasis on sciences. BS, computer technology.
Expert: Patrick Weiler Date: 7/15/2008 Subject: eta carinae
Question QUESTION: i heard many things about eta carinae.
Will this star affect us? is it too far away? will it even produce gamma ray bursts?...etc
thanks
ANSWER: Joe...
No, Eta Carinae is not too far away not to affect Earth, although how severe that effect might be is still under study. Most astronomers agree that when -- not if -- Eta Carinae cooks off the enormous gamma ray flux will to one extent or another play havoc with our atmosphere, including the ozone layer. Eta Carinae is between 7,500 to 8,000 light years distant so if it went supernova tomorrow it would be some 8,000 years before we'd be affected. Of course if it exploded 8,000 years ago then those effects could well arrive tomorrow. For more details I'd recommend you visit this website =>http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/astronomy/milan_eta_carinae_000307.html
QUESTION: i read there, that it's poles are pointed about 45 degrees away from earth atm
is that far enough away to not affect us greatly?
i've read the new scientist stuff before but i've found the info in it to be unreliable
thanks.
Answer Hello again...
The polar alignment of a star really has nothing to do with the magnitude of a supernova. As you probably already know, that kind of event is an explosion that hurls stellar material and radiation outward at near relativistic velocities. Eta Carinae certainly has a magnetic field, thus a north and south magnetic pole, but like most stars the flux intensity of such a field is relatively small and would have little or no effect on the supernova aftermath.
