Just a curiosity question about Betelgeuse (sp?):

Let's say, just for example, that it's already gone supernova and the light just hasn't reached us (yet).
What would it look like to an observer here at the moment the light from the supernova reached us? Would it just suddenly 'flash' to very bright, or would the light gradually increase (noticeably) over a period of a few days or so?

Again, this is just curiosity on my part, and even I know the likelihood of that happening in our lifetimes is remote, at best.

---

It is my understanding that the change in brightness would be over several days, and increase exponentially with time.
As to the doomsday predictions - dubious to say the least. Again my understanding is that unless earth is in direct line of fire of one of the major emission events there is no real danger, and even if we were in direct line of fire it would be no more significant than a big aurora event.

---

Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?