Supernova Explosion To Take The Night Sky All Over The The World. If astronomers had to guess the next, nearby star to go supernova in the Milky Way, their bets might go to Betelgeuse.

The bright-red supergiant star that marks Orion’s shoulder is nearing the end of its life, and it’s less than 1,000 light-years from Earth.

But how close is it to going supernova? And will we be around to see it?