My Lucky Star

When I was a kid, I remember looking at the stars and the moon with my Grandfather. I remember there was a perfect triangle in Orion, and one of them was red. I called that my lucky star, mostly because I could find it again and again and know it was the same star. Years later, I found out the star was named Betelgeuse.

A different one

Well, my lucky star is going to blow up. Really, I found this article in the Telegraph:

'Second sun' on its way

The Earth could find itself with a 'second sun' for a period of weeks later this year when one of the night sky's most luminous stars explodes, scientists have claimed.

The supernova could provide the biggest light show since Earth was formed, and will be so bright that night will become like day for one or two weeks, experts said.

Betelgeuse, which is part of the Orion constellation 640 light years away from Earth, is a red supergiant, meaning that it is nearing the end of its life and is due to explode.

When it does do, it will burn so brightly that the earth will appear to have two suns in the sky, the Daily Mail reported.

What is less certain is when it will explode.

Brad Carter, senior lecturer of physics at the University of southern Queensland in Australia, said the explosion could take place before the end of the year – or indeed at any point over the next million years.

It should be really cool to see, if it happens. Personally, I doubt it will, but it might!
It'd just be my luck to have my lucky star blow up!