Gamma Ray Burst

Summary:

Do we have any reason to be afraid one will occur in 2012?

Gamma Ray Burst

worried (guest) 12 Feb 2011 17:22

I know that gamma ray bursts have mystified scientists for years, but do we have any reason to be afraid one will occur in 2012 close enough to Earth to be catastrophic? How close would we need to be in the first place?

In other words-is there any reason to fear the Earth will cross the path of a dying star in 2012?

I know the Earth's magnetic pole is supposed to have an effect on the longer ones-but still, it makes me nervous. I can find no reference to gamma ray bursts in any of the 2012 lit., and I think it remains the only thing your site has not really managed to reassure me about. NASA's website doesn't say much on the subject either.

Stephen Hawking (a reputable source if I ever saw one) seems to believe that it is extremely unlikely a gamma ray burst will occur close to the Earth in our lifetime, but still, that 20/20 documentary "Last Days" we watched in school featured it, and I can't seem to get it out of my head. Over-active imagination, that's for sure. :/

I have to thank you all for this site, it made me feel a lot better and like I wasn't being silly, even intelligent, educated people were getting scared by this. Now I feel like I can talk about it and get help.

I'd sure appreciate it if somebody would respond to this post, it would really help.

Thanks again!

Gary (guest) 12 Feb 2011 17:30

Gamma ray bursts are extremely rare. Iv never heard a 2012er saying that's going to be a cause, that's how rare they are, the idiots aren't even using it. According to phil plait, I'm sure he calculated about a 1 in 14 million chance one would happen close enough to do harm. Really there's more chance of standing on an ant and breaking your ankle. It's so unlikely that it really shouldn't be something that bothers you, I'd forget it. Hope this helps.

worried (guest) 12 Feb 2011 17:35

Thanks, it does help. I read that the Earth is not really in the path of such stars, and anyway the chance of such an event is about 1 percent in the next ten billion years. They really must be that rare if not even the 2012ers are using it as a cause.

Thanks again for your response!

Gary (guest) 12 Feb 2011 18:01

No problem, glad I could help.

Re: Gamma Ray Burst

obaeyens 12 Feb 2011 17:34

A gamma ray burst is a bit like a laser beam, only gamma rays in this case. The further distant the object is, the less chance that it will hit Earth. You try to hit a an object at a distance of 100 km with your laser pointer? ;-)

You cannot predict it and completely unrelated with 2012.