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A near Earth supernova [See Link] is a supernova that occurs close enough to the Earth (less than 100 light-years away) to have noticeable effects on its biosphere. Gamma rays from a supernova induce a chemical reaction in the upper atmosphere, converting molecular nitrogen into nitrogen oxides, depleting the ozone layer enough to expose the surface to harmful solar and cosmic radiation. This has been proposed as the cause of the Ordovician extinction - [See link], which resulted in the death of nearly 60% of the oceanic life on Earth. Type Ia supernova [See Link] are thought to be potentially the most dangerous if they occur close enough to the Earth. Because these supernova occur from dim, common white dwarf stars, it is likely that a supernova that could affect the Earth will occur unpredictably and take place in a star system that is not well studied. The closest known candidate is IK Pegasi [See Link] Recent estimates predict that a Type II supernova would have to be closer than 26 light-years to destroy half of the Earth's ozone layer.

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What is the Vela Supernova?

The Vela Supernova is the remnant of a supernova explosion that occurred in the Vela constellation about 11,000 to 12,300 years ago. It is located about 800 light-years away from Earth and is one of the closest known supernova remnants to us.


Why doesn't a supernova occur on earth?

A supernova can't occur on any planet. A supernova occurs when a very large star, at least 8 times more massive than the sun dies.


How long would it take for us to see a supernova on earth?

That depends entirely on how far the supernova is from Earth. If it is our Sun going supernova, a little over 8 minutes. And a few Milli-seconds later all life on Earth would be gone. Any other star, it would just appear slightly brighter for a while and then disappear. It could take centuries for the light to reach us.


Can the earth go supernova?

No. There are two ways of generating a supernova: a star at least 8 times the mass of the sun collapsing and exploding or a white dwarf interacting or colliding with a companion star. Our sun is not massive enough to explode when it dies and does not have a companion star.


When has a supernova ever hit the earth?

If a supernova - or any star, for that matter - would have hit Earth, the Earth would have been utterly destroyed. Earth still exists, ergo this didn't happen._____________________However, it is likely that a supernova - more precisely, SEVERAL supernovas - CREATED the Earth.The Earth is made of heavy elements; iron, lead, uranium, gold, and heavy metals in addition to the lighter stuff like carbon, oxygen, silicon, and magnesium. The point is that the original Big Bang was composed of mostly hydrogen, a little helium, and traces of lithium; the LIGHTEST elements. So where did the metals come from? Supernova explosions are the only way that heavy elements can be created and thrown back into space.So the dust and gas left over from a few supernovas gathered together as a nebula. But what would cause a nebula to collapse and form a star and a solar system? Our theories indicate that the shockwave of a "nearby" supernova might easily have been the final impetus to cause a nebula to coalesce and form a solar system.Other supernova explosions may have been responsible for some of the mass extinctions that we see in our historical record. Several times in the past, we know that most living things on Earth all died quite suddenly. Some of these - for example, the dinosaurs - were probably caused by asteroid impacts into the Earth. But some may have been caused by the radiation from a supernova explosion.

Related Questions

How far from a supernova do you have to be to be safe?

About 50 to 100 light-years as the closest safe distance between Earth and a supernova. But, if a supernova to go off within about 30 light-years of us, that would lead to major effects on the Earth, possibly mass extinctions.


What is more dangerous than a supernova?

A Hypernova - especially if you are next to it. A black whole is dangerous, but only within the event horizon


How many light years away does a Supernova have to be to destroy Earth?

For a supernova to directly destroy Earth, it would need to be less than 10 light years away. However, even if a supernova were to occur farther away, its effects on Earth's atmosphere and climate could still be substantial.


What is the Vela Supernova?

The Vela Supernova is the remnant of a supernova explosion that occurred in the Vela constellation about 11,000 to 12,300 years ago. It is located about 800 light-years away from Earth and is one of the closest known supernova remnants to us.


Is a supernova bigger than earth?

Much bigger. Earth is a relatively small planet, much smaller than even a dwarf star. A supernova is a very large star exploding.


What do distant supernova explosions release that is extremely dangerous to astronauts in outer space?

cosmic rays


What would happen if a super nova hit earth?

A supernova is an exploding star. The Earth would be instantly incinerated, of course. There is approximately zero chance this will ever happen, though. If there was a supernova near Earth ... it would depend on how near. Betelgeuse is a good candidate for a supernova "soon" (within the next million years or so). Scientists who have modeled supernova explosions don't expect it will have much of an impact. If a star nearer than Betelgeuse were to go supernova, then it might be more serious.


Why doesn't a supernova occur on earth?

A supernova can't occur on any planet. A supernova occurs when a very large star, at least 8 times more massive than the sun dies.


What is the Velocity of the Supernova from the earth in the 20th century?

Light Speed. 186,000 mps


What are exploding stars?

Dangerous. Novas, or supernovas. Tycho Brahe coined the phrase "nova stellarum" when a "new star" appeared in the night sky. We now know that he was observing a supernova, the death throes of a very massive star.


Which star if it were to go supernova is close enough to harm planet Earth?

The nearest likely supernova candidate I know of is Betelgeuse, which is about 640 light years away, and is already well off the main sequence in a Red Giant phase. In order to seriously disrupt Earth, a supernova would probably have to be significantly closer than that.


IF the crab nebula is 6300 light years from earth how long did take the light from the supernova to reach earth?

6,300 years