Colossal star explosion detected
Source: BBC
[font size=1]Before and after: This event was more than twice as luminous as the previous record-holding supernova[/font]
Colossal star explosion detected
By Jonathan Amos
BBC Science Correspondent
14 January 2016 Science & Environment
Astronomers have seen what could be the most powerful supernova ever detected.
The exploding star was first observed back in June last year but is still radiating vast amounts of energy.
At its peak, the event was 200 times more powerful than a typical supernova, making it shine with 570 billion times the brightness of our Sun.
Researchers think the explosion and ongoing activity have been boosted by a very dense, highly magnetised, remnant object called a magnetar.
This object, created as the supernova got going, is probably no bigger than a major city, such as London, and is likely spinning at a fantastic rate - perhaps a thousand times a second.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35315509
= new reply since forum marked as read
'Most powerful supernova in human history' observed
15/01/2016 - 06:39:52
Astronomers have spotted the most powerful supernova in human history.
The record-breaking cosmic explosion was 570 billion times brighter than the sun and about 200 times more powerful than a typical supernova, scientists said.
The blast – known as ASASSN-15lh- is thought to be an example of a “superluminous supernova,” a recently-discovered type of explosion unleashed by certain stars when they die.
But space experts are at a loss about which stars might be responsible for such an extreme event.
Astronomer Subo Dong said: “ASASSN-15lh is the most powerful supernova discovered in human history.
“The explosion’s mechanism and power source remain shrouded in mystery because all known theories meet serious challenges in explaining the immense amount of energy ASASSN-15lh has radiated.
More:
http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/most-powerful-supernova-in-human-history-observed-715810.html
... shortly (in astronomical terms) after the Earth was formed. And it's light is just reaching us now... cosmic! I love these concepts that are just too immense to wrap your head around; they're WAY more fun than the dinky-ass numbers, like 6,000 years, that the idiot fundies fantasize about. 
*What If History’s Brightest Supernova Exploded In Earth’s Backyard? - The Atlantic:
Now consider ASASSN-15lh at the too-close-for comfort distance of the star Arcturus. A few hours before we notice anything amiss, underground detectors on Earth would start picking up neutrinos: tiny, slippery particles that carry away the lion’s share of the energy trapped between a dying star’s hardened core and its atmosphere. Light struggles to escape, but neutrinos slide right out, traveling just below the speed of light.
Photons would soon follow. The supernova would hang as a blinding point in our sky, like a smaller, but much more dangerous Sun. Dangerous because in addition to the visible light, the exploded star would pour X-rays, gamma rays, and hard ultraviolet radiation into Earth’s atmosphere, obliterating its ozone layer.
Every ecosystem fueled by sunlight—which is all of them, except for deep-sea vents—would feel the pain for decades, as the ozone layer heals. “If you’re a small beastie, you can’t just put on suntan lotion,” Fields says. It would likely trigger a mass extinction. From hard radiation alone, researchers estimate the kill zone of an ordinary supernova to extend out to around 10 parsecs.
Surprisingly, it isn’t clear whether ASASSN-15lh’s extraordinary luminosity would sterilize a wider radius of space than your average supernova. But there are clues. For one, it’s very blue, suggesting it cranks out a lot of UV rays. Using only ASASSN-15lh’s heightened brightness, Thompson estimates it could be deadly even up to three hundred parsecs away.
ASASSN? I don't care what the project's acronym is; that name is deliberate!
... what the hell a parsec is. 
But... is that 1/12 the time, or 1/12 the distance??
==============
I like to think that the Kessel Run isn't just getting from A to B, but finding the shortest route around, say, various galactic obstacles (e.g. asteroid belts, nebulae, etc) that normally add a lot of mileage to the trip. Solo perhaps found the shortest route by probably going THROUGH said obstacles, thereby getting from A to B "in less than 12 parsecs."
Although... he does use his Kessel record as an example of how fast his ship is, so... oops.
=================
*Oops, indeed! 
I'm looking at the new Sony a7rII but the price (3197.00) is one of those things that you are hesitant to buy because of: "Well, that doesn't look much better than my older camera" 
Works on the moon.
