Stellar Explosion Near Earth! Can We Survive a Supernova Blast？

Every night, the starry sky treats us to a complimentary spectacle of light.
And within it, there are celestial events that can astonish even those who are not easily impressed.
For those who desire to witness a cosmic fireworks display, I encourage you to grab some popcorn and turn up the volume.
Today, I'd like to discuss what would happen if a supernova explosion occurred near Earth.
Can we indeed survive such an event?
And what fate awaits us, the inhabitants of Earth?
A supernova - the grand finale of a massive star's life cycle
Stars are born quietly.
However, the death of a star is accompanied by a fantastical scene, spreading a breathtaking spectacle for neighboring planets.
To see another light in the dark sky, one must wait for millions of years.
It all begins with the accumulation of sufficient amounts of dust and gas in space.
Particles attract each other, rotate, form spheres, which eventually become the core of a star.
And thus, through the work of hydrogen, gravity, and time, a new beacon of the universe is born.
Under tremendous gravity, gases are heated to immense temperatures, releasing vast amounts of energy.
Nuclear reactions begin in the core, lasting for millions, billions of years.
This may seem like an endless process, but stars, too, eventually meet their end.
This is due to the depletion of fuel.
Unfortunately, as the universe's gas stations have yet to be invented, stars cannot simply purchase more hydrogen.
Thus begins the irreversible process of stellar death.
The first to perish are the high-mass stars.
The most famous supernovae witnessed by humanity
In the vastness of space, about ten stars explode every second.
However, such shows are visible to Earthlings only about once every hundred years.
The oldest record of a significant celestial event was left by Chinese scholars.
In 1006, a massive flash appeared in the constellation of Lupus.
This is now known as the supernova SN 1006.
According to ancient astronomers' records, the light was so bright that it cast shadows even during the day.
In April 1054, Chinese scholars recorded another new shining light in the sky.
It was visible for several months.
The explosion occurred at a distance of 6,500 light-years from Earth.
Such a powerful explosion led to the formation of the Crab Nebula after the death of the giant star.
Its bright glow indeed resembles a crab.
To cross this celestial crab in the sky, one needs to traverse a distance of 11 light-years.
It's not difficult to imagine the scale of this ancient fireworks display.
What would happen if a star exploded near Earth?
There are no astronomers who can accurately predict when and which stars will explode next.
Based on observations and survey data of celestial bodies, such an event could happen at any time.
But when catastrophic phenomena occur, what exactly awaits the inhabitants of Earth?
So far, nothing particularly terrifying has occurred.
That's because Earth has overcome multiple supernova explosions without suffering significant consequences.
Or has it?
The cases of stellar explosions recorded in history represent only a small fraction of what Earth and its inhabitants have witnessed.
While some explosions have been truly harmless, others have shaken the cosmos extensively upon the death of individual giant stars.
What poses a high risk to Earth - as you may well understand - are supermassive stars that are close to Earth.
All celestial bodies are constantly in motion.
We are currently hurtling through space at a speed of 30,000 kilometers per second.
For example, some stars, like the Alpha Centauri triple star system, approach and move away from Earth.
One of these celestial bodies approaches within 1 light-year of Earth every half a million years.
What kinds of stars are potentially dangerous for Earth?
Current technology is insufficient to thoroughly explore the vast expanse of space.
However, within the cosmic panorama that scientists observe, there are several celestial bodies lurking that could potentially threaten Earth.
For instance, the red supergiant Betelgeuse in the constellation of Orion is a star on the brink of becoming a supernova, causing concern among astrophysicists for years.
This star could explode at any time.
Of course, considering the vast timeframes on a cosmic scale, there's no need to worry beforehand.
Vega, illuminating the night sky in the constellation of Lyra.
It's a massive star that rotates rapidly.
Scientists speculate about the instability within this star.
And that instability could lead to the star's collapse.
Similarly, the red supergiant Antares in the constellation of Scorpius is also not to be trusted.
Currently, this star is actively burning fuel.
Its demise is inevitable, but no one knows the exact date of its future explosion.