[meteorite-list] Death Star Story - Link corrected

From: lebofsky at lpl.arizona.edu <lebofsky_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2010 04:46:15 -0700 (MST)
Message-ID: <994e0c1957fcbb7d4a253d88d2946c6a.squirrel_at_webmail.lpl.arizona.edu>

Hi Sterling:

Thanks for researching that. This is the problem of a press release that
is not followed up with what probably actually went on at the actual
session where the paper was presented.

Larry


> Dear Count, and Listoids,
>
> Another story:
> http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-01/star-verge-supernova-could-threaten-life-earth
>
> And another:
> http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/T_Pyxidis_Soon_To_Be_A_Type_Ia_Supernova_999.html
>
> And another:
> http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8944
>
> All taken from the same press release, you will note.
>
> And all equally in error about The End Of All Life As
> We Know It. It's a math mistake: "However, Dr. Sion's
> calculations were challenged by Prof. Alex Fillipenko
> who said that Sion had possibly miscalculated the
> damage that could be caused by a T Pyxidis supernova.
> He had used data for a far more deadly gamma-ray burst
> (GRB) exploding 3,260 light-years from Earth, not a
> supernova, and T Pyxidis certainly isn't expected to
> produce a GRB. According to an another expert,
> "A supernova would have to be 10 times closer [to Earth]
> to do the damage described."
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_Pyxidis
>
> Information about nearby supernovas of the recent past:
> http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2003/06jan_bubble.htm
>
> The truth is a supernova would be disastrous at 25 light
> years away (not 3260). 50 light years away and it would
> cause some damage, although it's hard to say how much.
> 100 light years away and it would be the action movie of
> all time but you might worry that you sat too near to the
> screen. There are two kinds (strengths) of supernovas. For
> the Big One, I'd want to sit further away than the 300 Light
> Year Line
>
> But 3260 light years? Fergettabouttit!
>
> Now, I can go to bed without worrying about a darn
> Supernova...
>
> It's always something.
>
>
> Sterling K. Webb
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <countdeiro at earthlink.net>
> To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Thursday, January 07, 2010 1:18 AM
> Subject: [meteorite-list] Death Star Story - Link corrected
>
>
>>
>> Sorry List,
>> Here is corrected link re previous Death Star post.
>> Count Deiro
>>
>> http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2795981/Supernova-may-wipe-out-the-Earth.html
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Received on Thu 07 Jan 2010 06:46:15 AM PST