Astronomers Predict Fireworks from Rare Stellar Encounter in 2018

[soundwave]

• Astronomers are expecting high-energy explosions when pulsar J2032 swings around its massive companion star in early 2018.
• The pulsar will plunge through a disk of gas and dust surrounding the star, triggering cosmic fireworks.
• Scientists are planning a global campaign to watch the event across the spectrum, from radio waves to gamma rays.

http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/astronomers-predict-fireworks-from-rare-stellar-encounter-in-2018

I wonder if we could see it in the visible with an amateur telescope.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Sounds very interesting

[DaveS]

Now that's what I *call* a blockbuster trailer 

Just shows that the real thing makes Hollywood look totally meh!

"We're going to need a bigger hard-drive" 

[estwing]

hmmm another cloudy month in 2018!

[MAN or ASTROMAN]

Sounds like the idea for one of those ultra cheapo disaster movies that you can see on 'movie mix' or whatever,on an afternoon.

[ronin]

Didn't they predict the same for the gas cloud and the black hole at the centre of out galaxy?

That was a bit of a non-event. :grin: