http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/nyer_is_super_smart_seMJnvJaXju74neeqHgM2M

Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s . . . Superman’s home planet!

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has pinpointed a real location for the fictional planet of Krypton.

The “real” Krypton is in the Corvus constellation, about 27.1 light years from Earth, orbiting the red dwarf star LHS 2520, Tyson determined.

The star, which is smaller and cooler than our sun, can be seen at right ascension 12 hours, 10 minutes, 05.60 seconds, and declination 15 degrees, 04’ 15.66.

The Hayden Planetarium director tracked down the locale based on information provided to him by DC Comics, which was doing a story on Superman’s search for his home planet in the pages of “Action Comics.”

DC Comics

STAR MAN: Superman locates his home planet in his latest comic adventure, thanks to a New York astrophysicist.

“One of our staffers reached out to him to see if he’d assist for a story we were doing, and he actually came up with a location,” said DC co-publisher Dan DiDio.

Tyson, whose planetarium sits next to the Museum of Natural History on West 81st Street at Central Park West, was happy to be of service.

“As a native of Metropolis, I was delighted to help Superman, who has done so much for my city over all these years,” he said.

Tyson himself makes an appearance in “Action Comics” No. 14, which goes on sale Wednesday, but in it, it’s the Man of Steel who figures out the exact location.

“It’s clear that if he weren’t a superhero, he would have made quite an astrophysicist,” Tyson said.

Tyson’s no stranger to pop culture. He’s the scientist who was able to persuade film director James Cameron to alter the night sky in “Titanic” for its recent re-release to match how the stars actually looked on the night the ship sank.

DiDio said that “by applying real-world science to this story, he has forever changed Superman’s place in history. Now fans will be able to look up at the night’s sky and say, ‘That’s where Superman was born.’ ”

It’s distance of 27.1 light years — roughly 150 trillion miles — coincides with the age Superman is supposed to be in the comics.

That means light from Krypton’s destruction — which Superman was spared from him when his parents sent him in a rocket to Earth — would be reaching our planet around now. In a super coincidence, Superman’s alter-ego of Clark Kent played for the Smallville Crows in high school.

Referred to as “Rao” by native Kryptonians, Corvus is Latin for crow.

Wow. Okay, I can't believe DC actually did this. This is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Watch out we got a badass over here

I love that man.

Sure why not let a man who hasn't got a clue about comics consult another person who hasn't got a clue about comics to make up some BS that doesn't actually fit with anything in comics because it is more "scientifically" accurate to not take in all the facts v.v

This is truly awesome :) Kinda answers alot of questions for me too since I was always under the assumption that Krypton was located in another galaxy entirely.

I think this is adorable and very fun for Tyson to do.

Hollywood is increasingly reaching out to scientists in order to get advice on how to explain away their fantastical elements at least semi-accurately. It's a good thing. And really, the title should be "Tyson PICKS a real Krypton," not 'finds' one.

@fodigg said:

Hollywood is increasingly reaching out to scientists in order to get advice on how to explain away their fantastical elements at least semi-accurately. It's a good thing. And really, the title should be "Tyson PICKS a real Krypton," not 'finds' one.

I believe the location of Krypton has been described several times in DC. And the information was given to Tyson so that he could accurate pick out a planet that is most similar to the description and DC would slightly alter and model the location of Krypton after that planet.

@RedheadedAtrocitus said:

This is truly awesome :) Kinda answers alot of questions for me too since I was always under the assumption that Krypton was located in another galaxy entirely.

@sethysquare said:

@fodigg said:

Hollywood is increasingly reaching out to scientists in order to get advice on how to explain away their fantastical elements at least semi-accurately. It's a good thing. And really, the title should be "Tyson PICKS a real Krypton," not 'finds' one.

I believe the location of Krypton has been described several times in DC. And the information was given to Tyson so that he could accurate pick out a planet that is most similar to the description and DC would slightly alter and model the location of Krypton after that planet.

It has been... It's in the Andromeda Galaxy...which is not 27.1 light years away.

@Durakken: Thought so. Ah well, still interesting.

@fodigg: Precisely.

Hollywood is increasingly reaching out to scientists in order to get advice on how to explain away their fantastical elements at least semi-accurately. It's a good thing. And really, the title should be "Tyson PICKS a real Krypton," not 'finds' one.

Hollywood is increasingly reaching out to scientists in order to get advice on how to explain away their fantastical elements at least semi-accurately. It's a good thing. And really, the title should be "Tyson PICKS a real Krypton," not 'finds' one.

As if Tyson wasn't awesome already. This is very cool, and I'm glad DC has made it official (looking forward to Action #14 even more now). This makes me want to get a good telescope so I can find Rao in the night sky.

brb going to buy a telescope

Somehow I think they will have to retcon the name of Superman's home planet when we ever get to visit the world

Sure why not let a man who hasn't got a clue about comics consult another person who hasn't got a clue about comics to make up some BS that doesn't actually fit with anything in comics because it is more "scientifically" accurate to not take in all the facts v.v

@SC said:

@Durakken said:

Sure why not let a man who hasn't got a clue about comics consult another person who hasn't got a clue about comics to make up some BS that doesn't actually fit with anything in comics because it is more "scientifically" accurate to not take in all the facts v.v

Neil deGrasse Tyson is actually a pretty big comics fan. He mentions Hulk quite a lot in a few of his lectures/presentations. I can understand your cynicism though. Here its just a fun thing, not about trying to make the comic realistic to the point of robbing away any of the fun.

For a while I thought he was a pretty cool person, but then I listened to his podcast where it he gets just about everything outside his field so utterly wrong it's embarrassing, including everything he said about comics, and I further dislike him after his Nerdist interview where he explains that "he doesn't state opinions" which on the surface is "Oh i see that's cool" and then you think about it and realize that is impossible first of all and even if it were possible to do it, to even consider doing it, is deceptive and a defensive mechanism as to try to keep himself from ever appearing to be wrong even when he is. In the end it just make you look vapid when you take that stance. That is not to say that you should just go around proclaiming you're right, but to never state what you actually think is shallow, especially when you're supposed to be an authority and are looked to as one.

I wasn't only talking about Tyson though. I was also talking about DiDio who "knows" about comics in the sense that he works on them, but every time I see anything with his name on it, created wise or writing wise or editorial wise, it wreaks of not understanding anything about comics or writing or being creative in general. Perhaps this is just bias and I'm only presented with all the bad stuff he does and never the good stuff so if you have something that you think is good that can be attributed to DiDio directly then please PM me, but until then I have nothing to say good about him.

Another point is you might raise is is it fair to judge Tyson on his lack of knowledge of where Krypton ought be. No, but I'm not. I'm criticizing the whole thing because DiDio should know and Tyson well... I don't hate him, but I really wish he'd not open his mouth about stuff he clearly doesn't have a firm understanding of because every time he does he loses more, of at least my, respect.

Looks like Action Comics #14's "game changing back-up" has been spoiled.

@SC said:

@Durakken: I see. Oh well I haven't listened to his podcast and only know him from when he is talking about things he does know so I don't really have understanding on what he is like on other subjects - was interesting reading your reply cheers. Oh and I don't really have a high opinion of DiDio either so **shrugs** heh heh.

I constantly get disappointed by people I once thought were cool. Thing with him speaking on the things he does know, he has apparently made it a point not to say anything that could be taken as him saying something is write or wrong, but rather "if this is the case then this is the case" which doesn't actually do what he thinks it does but oh well v.v Someone less observant probably wouldn't notice how messed up what he says is.

Alright.

Wow, thats cool!

wasnt expecting this

Yeah look for Krypton but kick Pluto to the curb... Goddammit! Nice job Tyson! NICE JOB!!!! Nyehehehe!

Seriously, good job!

A true inspiration.

And a real boss. Thumbs up for Neil!!

btw... it should be mentioned that the type of star Tyson probably looked for is one of the most common star types and so it was probably more like "oh theres the one that is closest to our solar system..." more than "gee i wonder if that particular type of star system exists"

I know. I'm a buzz kill >.>

@Durakken said:

btw... it should be mentioned that the type of star Tyson probably looked for is one of the most common star types and so it was probably more like "oh theres the one that is closest to our solar system..." more than "gee i wonder if that particular type of star system exists"

I know. I'm a buzz kill >.>

yessssss go awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

we're having fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I always thought Krypton was in another galaxy....That's how it was back in the SA at least.