| With 2012 fast approaching I am sure you have | | | | suggest that the T Pyxidis is at least 20yrs |
| read many articles on the scenarios about the | | | | overdue for its next major explosion. |
| possible end of the world in that year somewhere | | | | If the white dwarf star was to explode the |
| around the 21st of December,which is the end of | | | | equivalent blast would be equal to twenty billion, |
| the Mayan calendar, and therefore will herald the | | | | billion, billion, megatons of TNT and would also |
| beginning of the end. | | | | result in a instantaneous gravitational collapse. |
| But recently astronomers have spotted a white | | | | The main question for the people of Earth is this,is |
| dwarf star which could possibly explode,the | | | | it that the white dwarf star is getting larger(ie |
| reason been it is increasing in mass at an | | | | increasing in mass), because of the gas it is |
| exponential rate,and therefore destroy all life on | | | | recieving,or is it the continual explosions, resulting |
| Earth. | | | | in the mass of the star falling. |
| The impending explosion would release a massive | | | | Astronomers from the USA from the Villanova |
| dose of radiation which would be enough to | | | | University in Philadelphia,took their readings from |
| destroy life on planet earth, what the | | | | the International Ultraviolet Explorer satellite, and |
| astronomers also found was that the star is a lot | | | | they say that they can confirm that the white |
| closer to the earth than previously thought. | | | | dwarf star is increasing in mass, and in |
| The star system in question is the T Pyxidis, yes | | | | astronomical terms is only 3,260 light years away, |
| you might say where? But that's just the name | | | | a stones throw away in distances in space from |
| given to the binary system in which the star | | | | the Earth. |
| exists,the system actually consists of two | | | | So therefore an explosion of the magnitude as |
| stars,one of the systems is very similar to our | | | | explained earlier would emit enough radiation to |
| own Sun.Thus the Sun like star is responsible for | | | | totally destroy the ozone layer of the |
| feeding gas to the white dwarf star, resulting in | | | | Earth,leaving us exposed to the Suns destructive |
| explosions of a nuclear magnitude or as in | | | | ultraviolet radiation. |
| astronomer speak "NOVA". | | | | But as always don't start hiding in your radiation |
| Apparently these nova explosions take place | | | | shelters yet,according to the UK astronomical |
| approxiamately every 20yrs,and known | | | | society, they say the star may become a |
| recordings date back as far as 1890,up to | | | | supernova soon, but that could be many years |
| 1967,but not much notice was taken,which could | | | | away, let's hope they're right. |