Betelgeuse, like many stars, gets its name from Arabic. It means, roughly, ‘the hand of Orion’. Betelgeuse is Alpha Orionis, the brightest star in the constellation Orion. It will go supernova sooner or later. As it’s over 200 parsecs away, it might already have blown up and we wouldn’t know for several centuries. If it hasn’t blown up yet it will soon, as astronomers measure time. That distance is a Good Thing, as being too close to a supernova is a Very Bad Thing. We’re too close (less than three parsecs) to Sirius, which will also go boom sometime soon; fortunately, when astronomers speak of ‘near future’ and ‘soon’ and ‘in a short time’ they mean thousands or tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years.
The accolade of ‘brightest star in the sky as viewed from Earth” goes to the well-known star Sirius, also popularly called the “Dog Star”, due to its role as the dominant star in the Canis Major (Greater Dog) constellation. Being such a visible heavenly body, it has been the object of wonder and veneration to ancient peoples throughout human history.
Interestingly, totally separate ancient cultures with no apparent communication have related the brlliant Sirius with either a wolf or a dog. In ancient Chaldea (present day Iraq) the star was known as the “Dog Star that Leads”. In ancient China, the star was identified as a heavenly wolf. And in Assyria and Akkadia, it was said to be the "Dog of the Sun”. To add to the list, North American indigenous tribes have talked of the star in canine terms: the Seri and Tohono O’odham tribes of the southwest describe Sirius as a “dog that follows mountain sheep”, while the Cherokee paired Sirius with Antares as a dog-star guardian of the “Path of Souls”. The Skidi tribe of Nebraska knew it as the “Wolf Star”, while further north, the Alaskan Inuit of the Bering Strait called it “Moon Dog”.
I’ll bet that not many people know that the ‘Planet of the Apes’ in the original Pierre Boulle novel was a planet orbiting Betelgeuse. The ‘twist’ in the novel was that when the protagonist eventually got back to Earth, he found out that apes had taken over there as well. Of course when the movie was made, the plot was changed.
hariseldon59 over 5 years ago
Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse!
the lost wizard over 5 years ago
Time to listen to The Galaxy song.
nosirrom over 5 years ago
It could be even worse. Wolf 359
Painted Wolf over 5 years ago
Betelgeuse, like many stars, gets its name from Arabic. It means, roughly, ‘the hand of Orion’. Betelgeuse is Alpha Orionis, the brightest star in the constellation Orion. It will go supernova sooner or later. As it’s over 200 parsecs away, it might already have blown up and we wouldn’t know for several centuries. If it hasn’t blown up yet it will soon, as astronomers measure time. That distance is a Good Thing, as being too close to a supernova is a Very Bad Thing. We’re too close (less than three parsecs) to Sirius, which will also go boom sometime soon; fortunately, when astronomers speak of ‘near future’ and ‘soon’ and ‘in a short time’ they mean thousands or tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years.
Breadboard over 5 years ago
Car 54 where are you ?
Yakety Sax over 5 years ago
The accolade of ‘brightest star in the sky as viewed from Earth” goes to the well-known star Sirius, also popularly called the “Dog Star”, due to its role as the dominant star in the Canis Major (Greater Dog) constellation. Being such a visible heavenly body, it has been the object of wonder and veneration to ancient peoples throughout human history.
Interestingly, totally separate ancient cultures with no apparent communication have related the brlliant Sirius with either a wolf or a dog. In ancient Chaldea (present day Iraq) the star was known as the “Dog Star that Leads”. In ancient China, the star was identified as a heavenly wolf. And in Assyria and Akkadia, it was said to be the "Dog of the Sun”. To add to the list, North American indigenous tribes have talked of the star in canine terms: the Seri and Tohono O’odham tribes of the southwest describe Sirius as a “dog that follows mountain sheep”, while the Cherokee paired Sirius with Antares as a dog-star guardian of the “Path of Souls”. The Skidi tribe of Nebraska knew it as the “Wolf Star”, while further north, the Alaskan Inuit of the Bering Strait called it “Moon Dog”.
WoodstockJack over 5 years ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI_8I0BoJr4
Titan AE Final Act
Masterskrain Premium Member over 5 years ago
Although 40Eridani has some interesting neighbors… like Vulcan.
The Goon Show Premium Member over 5 years ago
J.R. Bob Dobbs is the stars full name.
COL Crash over 5 years ago
That’s okay. When everyone who ever lived is assigned a star of their own you’ll learn your real name.
Bobtul07110 over 5 years ago
Bob works for me.
hariseldon59 over 5 years ago
I’ll bet that not many people know that the ‘Planet of the Apes’ in the original Pierre Boulle novel was a planet orbiting Betelgeuse. The ‘twist’ in the novel was that when the protagonist eventually got back to Earth, he found out that apes had taken over there as well. Of course when the movie was made, the plot was changed.
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member over 5 years ago
“{sigh} Nobody ever calls me ‘Sugarlips’.”
- – - – - Snoopy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
todyoung over 5 years ago
Sorry, SugarLips…
Daeder over 5 years ago
Bob light, Bob bright, first Bob I see tonight…