Creation & EvolutionForum for the discussion of this important topic. This forum is open to non-believers. There is a Christians-only forum in the Christians-only section too.
It's come across the boards a couple of times, but how in the world are supernovas possible in an universe that's been created 6000 years ago? For those who don't know what supernovas are: A supernova is the explosive death of a star, caused by the sudden onset of nuclear burning (type I), or gravitational collapse followed by an enormously energetic shock wave (type II). This is one of the most energetic events of the universe, a supernova may temporarily outshine the rest of the galaxy in which it resides.
The first known Supernova that was known to appear in modern times was SN1897A which resides in the LMC (large Magellanic cloud). Here's how the star looked to us then in 1987, before and after, and how the star looks like 16 years after the explosion. Here's an other supernova SN1994D.
The question I would like to ask you is in a couple of parts:
1) How is it possible that light is made in transit?
And more importantly:
2) How come that if query = Earth 6000 years, then why do we see these supernovae? I mean, they are much father away then merly 6000 lightyears, and even so, wouldn't that mean that god is showing us stars that never been there?
Ona related note:
3) While I don't know if this is in the bible, there are (I think quite a few) Christians that believe that the Earth is the only place where God created life, right? Then why in the name of all that's holy did God place these nuclear deathcharges near to us? And why so many?
While of course the probablity that a star explodes is pretty low (once every 30-50 years per universe), There are quite a lot of stars here in the neighbourhood that are so massive that they can be very dangerous. Like Alpha Orionis, also known as Betelgeuse. This star is a mere 600 light ears away, but is so massive that this star has enough firepower to disturb life as we know it (noone know for sure what will happen).
For more info on Supernovae I suggest you go to the rochesterastronomy-site, it's got plenty of info on this subject.
Note: I've taken the time to investigate this phenomenom, and have taken time to formulate this topic. I expect that you do the same with your reply; In other words one-liners like "god-did-it" are not appriciated here. Thanks in advance.
I tell you something, you won't find me standing next to a star when it goes supernova.
Really? and if Beteguese goes supernova, just what are you going to do?
Actually, I don't think Betelguese can go supernova. Red giants don't, as I recall.
__________________ "If sound science appears to contradict the Bible, we may be sure that it is our interpretation of the Bible that is at fault." Christian Observer, 1832, pg. 437
"Christians should look on evolution simply as the method by which God works." Rev. James McCosh, theologian and President of Princeton, 1890
If I recall correctly; Red giants can contain a highly massive carbon burning core. for stars of >10 solar masses a complex fusing shell structure can be built in the centre of the star. Once the iron core exceeds 1.44 solar masses, then the electron degeneracy pressure is overcome and the core collapses. Then the collapse is stopped by neutron degeneracy pressure, and the hard shock bounces back at high velocities, blowing the star out into space. that is a type II supernova.
someone can corect me if my memory is wrong though
__________________ MSci MSc ARCS DIC PhD..... yes, I am bragging.
Jet, your memory was better than mine. I remembered only part of the red giant possibilities. A star the size of our sun will go to red giant and then shrink to white dwarf. But you are right, if the original star was >10-14 sol, then you get a different path and a supernovae. http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/te...ifecycles.html
But supernovae also arise from giant blue-white stars, which I thought was the only way to get them.
__________________ "If sound science appears to contradict the Bible, we may be sure that it is our interpretation of the Bible that is at fault." Christian Observer, 1832, pg. 437
"Christians should look on evolution simply as the method by which God works." Rev. James McCosh, theologian and President of Princeton, 1890
from what I recall, basically the blue-white becomes a red giant. once the hydrogen in the core is running out, the star starts burning heavier elements like helium and so on, which burn much hotter. This increases the radiation pressure inside the star and pushes the outer envelope higher making it go red.
__________________ MSci MSc ARCS DIC PhD..... yes, I am bragging.
Linear Mode
