Proto-stars collide causing massive explosion

[Brian G Turner]

The universe an increasingly violent place, and even young stars are not immune from the dangers:

Violent end as young stars dramatically collide - BBC News

Quote:

Scientists have captured a dramatic and violent image of the collision between two young stars that tore apart their stellar nursery.

Located in the constellation of Orion, the explosive event happened some 500 years ago sending giant streamers of dust and gas across interstellar space.

Researchers say the clash produced as much energy as our Sun would over 10 million years.

 

[Alexa]

Interesting. 500 years ago was the end of Middle Ages on Earth.

 

[J Riff]

Do we know they collided accidentally, or were they pushed?

 

[Parson]

Wouldn't this be a kind of flash bang and then it's over? Does the explosion go on for years? That doesn't seem logical.

 

[J Riff]

All that matter has to assume an orbit, around something. Could be some impressive meteor showers on planets near there, for the next few million years.

 

[Lumens]

What is the universe coming to?

 

[Parson]

What is the universe coming to?

Exactly the question astronomers have been asking for a while now.

 

[Alexa]

They do the best they can with the tools they have on hand. Only human missions can tell us more and we are not ready for them yet.

 

[Mirannan]

Wouldn't this be a kind of flash bang and then it's over? Does the explosion go on for years? That doesn't seem logical.

It's a matter of scale. Supernovae go on for a year or so (at least the main event) although the core collapse that initiates them happens in a few seconds. Simply because of how big a star is, to say nothing of the exploding cloud.

The Crab Nebula is a remnant of a supernova in 1054 AD (from our perspective!) and is still expanding. Arguably, the explosion is still going on a millennium later.

To give a smaller illustration of the scale issue: Consider the difference between a toy pistol cap exploding and a MOAB. (Watched from an appropriately safe distance, obviously. ) It's apparent that the cap explosion is much shorter in duration.