Sun Explosion

[vdeane]

Ever look up at the Sun, and wonder what it would look like if it suddenly exploded then and there? What would you do?

[Max Rockatansky]

Would you even have time to react if the sun were to somehow go Super Nova?

[jeffandnicole]

Ever look up at the Sun, and wonder what it would look like if it suddenly exploded then and there? What would you do?

Start buying a LOT of lightbulbs.

[MNHighwayMan]

Would you even have time to react if the sun were to somehow go Super Nova?

Depends on how fast the shockwave travels. Supernova explosions can expel matter at about ten percent of the speed of light, so we'd see it after eight minutes, and feel it after about an hour and 23 minutes.

(This is making the assumption that the explosion does not disrupt the Earth's orbit.)

[kphoger]

Ever look up at the Sun

My mommy said never to do that.

[kevinb1994]

Ever look up at the Sun

My mommy said never to do that.

"But momma, that's where the fun is!" -BRUUUUCE

[Max Rockatansky]

Would you even have time to react if the sun were to somehow go Super Nova?

Depends on how fast the shockwave travels. Supernova explosions can expel matter at about ten percent of the speed of light, so we'd see it after eight minutes, and feel it after about an hour and 23 minutes.

(This is making the assumption that the explosion does not disrupt the Earth's orbit.)

I couldn't recall if light was 8 seconds or 8 minutes.  For the sun to explode it would require some sort of external force, it isn't massive enough on its own to explode into a Super Nova.  I'm thinking a collision with a rogue star might have the energy required to the job.  Are we assume there is something left like a white dwarf to hold the orbit of the Earth?

[MNHighwayMan]

I couldn't recall if light was 8 seconds or 8 minutes.  For the sun to explode it would require some sort of external force, it isn't massive enough on its own to explode into a Super Nova.  I'm thinking a collision with a rogue star might have the energy required to the job.  Are we assume there is something left like a white dwarf to hold the orbit of the Earth?

The problem with the rogue star idea is that such an object would disrupt the orbits of basically everything before the collision could even occur. The Earth might get flung out into interstellar space, or smashed into another planet/the sun itself, before we get to witness the fireworks.

Furthermore, putting aside the fact that a supernova-like explosion would sterilize the planet, the sun's mass loss means that the Earth's orbit would widen considerably. If we survive the explosion, we're likely to freeze to death!

[hotdogPi]

If you're using AutoCAD, you can explode anything easily with just a few button presses.

[Roadgeekteen]

That's dangerous.

[renegade]

The threads today are boring ... how about "Ever wonder what would happen if Earth exploded right then and there?"  

Must be Stoopid Tuesday.

[Big John]

The Sun is constantly exploding: https://www.livescience.com/63366-sun-magnetic-field-photo.html

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Don't worry, the Sun has 5 billion years left (pending on something out of Science Fiction happening), and once it uses up all its Hydrogen, it would take out Mercury & Venus, and give Earth extreme global warming, before giving Earth a nuclear winter like no other.

[Mr. Matté]

Ever look up at the Sun

My mommy said never to do that.

If the president does it it's not illegal.