How come radiation from super giant suns in our galaxy doesn't reach our solar system and incinerate the earth

Answer 1

It does reach us in small amounts. We can even see some of it: visible light. There are UV sources, x-ray sources, radio , microwave, and infrared sources. But the amount of radiation we get is inconsequential because of the enormous distances involved.
I'm glad we get *some* though, or we would know nothing about the Universe.

Answer 2

There are three reasons.

1. Inverse-square law
As radiation from a star travels outbound it becomes less intense because it is spread over a wider area. As the distance doubles from the star the intensity drops by a factor of 4. Since the distances are so large, the reductions in intensity are correspondingly enormous.

2. Interstellar dust
Space is not "empty," but contains both gas and dust that readily absorb radiation and re-radiate it at lower frequencies and intensities.

3. Earth's atmosphere
This is an effective shield against most kinds of radiation: x-rays, gamma rays and high speed particles are all more or less completely stopped. UV does penetrate (sunburn!) but most of that radiation comes from the sun.

HTH

Charles

Answer 3

The same reason that stars that in reality are much brighter than the sun look like tiny faint points of light. Distance.

Light and all other forms of radiation follow an inverse square law, which means that their intensity drops with the square of distance. In other words, if you double the distance the intensity is reduced by a factor of four (2 squared). Double it again (so four times the distance) and the intensity drops by a factor of 16.

Radiation from stars, supernovae and black holes does indeed reach Earth. That's how we know they're there in the first place. But by the time it's travelled the vast distance here it is so spread out that we get a tiny tiny tiny portion of it, not enough to harm us.

Answer 4

Because those stars are too far away. It is the same reason the heat from a hot fire in a fireplace does not burn you if you just stay a few feet away, and why you can't get warm after coming in from a cold day if you stand 20 feet away from the fire place. Because it is too far away.

Because the stars are emitting the radiation in all directions, it spreads out as it gets farther from then star, dropping in intensity by 4 times every time the distance doubles.

Answer 5

Radiation reaches our planet from multiple sources, constantly. The Earth's magnetosphere provides protection to some extent, and the radiation is so far away as to be minute by the time it reaches here.

I sense you wish it could incinerate our Earth. Well, if it's any consolation, so do I.

Answer 6

Because they are too far away and the effect of most forces drops off with the square of the distance. The nearest star is so far away it takes light around 4 years to get here. We would have to have a supernova in a star close to us for it to have an effect on us and to the best of my knowledge none of the nearer stars are the type or age to go nova

Answer 7

The energy is decreased as the radiation is dispersed further as it travels farther. I think it is inverse as the square of the distance.

Answer 8

also presumably some electromagnetic waves are stopped by the atmosphere. other objects in space with thin atmospheres cannot sustain life because all organic matter is destroyed by the radiation.

Answer 9

I agree with Charles...................