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The Universe Within 12.5 Light Years

(www.atlasoftheuniverse.com)
266 points algorithmista | 2 comments | 05 Sep 25 22:20 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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zkmon ◴[06 Sep 25 11:03 UTC] No.45148260[source]▶
I always wondered why do we care about stuff outside of Solar system. Apart from the "wow" factor, what else are the real uses for info? I think anything beyond solar system is unlikely to have an impact on the life on the Earth.
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1. chriskanan ◴[06 Sep 25 13:00 UTC] No.45148911[source]▶
A Type II supernova within 26 light-years of Earth is estimated to destroy more than half of the Earth's ozone layer. Some have argued that supernovas within 250-100 light-years can have a significant impact on Earth's environment, increase cancer rates, and kill a lot of plankton. They can potentially cause ice ages and extinctions. Within 25 light-years, we are within a supernova's "kill range." Fortunately, nothing should go supernova close to us for a long time.

Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near-Earth_supernova

Kurzgesagt video on the impact on Earth of supernovas at varying distances: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4DF3j4saCE

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2. chriskanan ◴[06 Sep 25 13:03 UTC] No.45148934[source]▶
That's the practical reason for why one might care. Keep in mind that the solar system is rotating around the galaxy, so over time different stars become closer or farther away.

As the Kurzesagt video points out, a supernova within 100 light-years would make space travel very difficult for humans and machines due to the immense amount of radiation for many years.

Still, I think the primary value is in expanding our understanding of science and the nature of the universe and our location within it.