Bang??

Betelgeuse, one of the stars in the constellation of Orion is due to go supernova, and when it happens it will be very visible from the earth - indeed it has been suggested that it will outshine the sun.  Question is - when will it happen?  There have been quite a few suggestions that it will take place this year, although other astronomers have poo-poohed the idea. Of course, as assiduous readers of this blog (are there any?) will be quick to point out, it's far more likely that it has already happened - Betelgeuse is more than 500 light-years away, so we are seeing it as it was 500-odd years ago.  If it does "happen" this year, then it probably took place back when Henry VIII was doing his thing.