Will a supernova one light year away be close enough to cause havoc?

Answer 1

Luckily, there's no star closer than 4 light years... if a supernova happened one light year away, we'd be fried by the high energy flux, at the very least. There wouldn't be any life in this solar system left... except for some hidden bacteria deep underground.... our Sun would probably be destabilized for a long time, too...

Any supernova closer than 500 light years would scare the heck out of me :)

Edit:
Addendum: Anyone having a problem with Braxton_paul's link in the answer below, please use this one:
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn2311
(there was an unnecessary character at the end of his link, brings you to an error page... hope he doesn't mind the correction :)) Great article, btw... and I still think that any supernova closer than 500 light years would scare the heck out of me! :)

Answer 2

Not only would Earth be totally blasted by radiation from the supernova, but the shock wave from the blast would almost certainly totally disrupt existing orbits within our solar system. Planets knockin' around like slow-motion balls on a pool table.

There's a star about 150 light years away that's getting some serious scrutiny of late. Studies have shown that it's a prime candidate to experience a supernova event, and at that distance its radiation would wipe out most life on Earth. (http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn2311)

Answer 3

yes. it will be the closest supernova and it will endanger all of planetary system of us.. one light year is much closer.... as the theory tells, the supernova which is 30 light years away will cuase around 40 to 60% endangering to human life..

Answer 4

Sure would but there's nothing that close.