Unfortunately, today’s astronomers would usually just burn out a CCD sensor if such an event occurred. Very little professional astronomy is done by actually looking through the telescope.
Amateur astronomers, on the other hand, are indispensible, because of the number of small scope around the world, pointing in so many directions. They often see things that the professionals might miss.
Even if it was 1,000 times the size of our sun, it’d be far enough away that it’d still be the equivalent of a pinprick of light to the unaided eye. It’d have to be a REALLY powerful telescope (the likes of which do not exist that I know of on this planet) in order to even be blinded from looking at it. You’d more likely strain your eyes just trying to make out what it is, especially with the telescope portrayed here.
People have pointed out that plenty of stars that bright exist, but despite one person even referring to our star as “Sol”, no one has pointed out that “Solar System” is specifically the name of the system that we live in. All others are called “Star Systems”.
gocomics almost 11 years ago
Unimpressive. There are already several such known stars: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_known_stars#List
Additionally, at a distance of more than 5 light hours (a fraction of a light year), this star would be LESS BRIGHT than the sun.
Doosenbury almost 11 years ago
Oops! I forgot my sunglasses!
Say What Now‽ Premium Member almost 11 years ago
He needs a little aloe.
WillardMBaker almost 11 years ago
Looks like a victim of a gamma ray burst. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma-ray_burst
cdward almost 11 years ago
So why’s he so hot under the collar?
fixer1967 almost 11 years ago
Or did he just point the telescope at our sun?
Fantom Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Focus Zifner, focus.
Dave8972X Premium Member almost 11 years ago
If you can’t take the heat…..
caller49 almost 11 years ago
Well now, break out the sun glasses and suntan lotion let’s get there quick as possible.
gosfreikempe almost 11 years ago
Unfortunately, today’s astronomers would usually just burn out a CCD sensor if such an event occurred. Very little professional astronomy is done by actually looking through the telescope.
Amateur astronomers, on the other hand, are indispensible, because of the number of small scope around the world, pointing in so many directions. They often see things that the professionals might miss.
scyphi26 almost 11 years ago
Even if it was 1,000 times the size of our sun, it’d be far enough away that it’d still be the equivalent of a pinprick of light to the unaided eye. It’d have to be a REALLY powerful telescope (the likes of which do not exist that I know of on this planet) in order to even be blinded from looking at it. You’d more likely strain your eyes just trying to make out what it is, especially with the telescope portrayed here.
jack fairbanks almost 11 years ago
when proactiv fails…
hippogriff almost 11 years ago
Saskfan: Mainly in discovering comets.
Pelahnar almost 11 years ago
People have pointed out that plenty of stars that bright exist, but despite one person even referring to our star as “Sol”, no one has pointed out that “Solar System” is specifically the name of the system that we live in. All others are called “Star Systems”.