The red supergiant star Betelgeuse has puzzled astronomers since it lost a large part of its brightness in late 2019, to the point that some observers thought that its explosion as a supernova was imminent, and astronomers began to imagine the gloomy view of the constellation Gemini without this great star.
Hot Topics
After years of observation, a new study has revealed that its outer atmosphere has returned to its normal temperatures, but scientists have noticed a slight change in its shape that may be related to a smaller star orbiting it.
This famous star is located in the constellation Orion and is one of the largest stars visible to the naked eye. It is in an advanced stage of its life, having consumed most of the hydrogen in its core and its outer layers having expanded.
The team analyzed observations taken between 2021 and 2026 at seven radio frequencies, with the aim of measuring the temperature of the star's outer layers, mapping its structure, and searching for traces of disturbances that might be related to its possible companion.
The results showed that radio brightness temperatures at two key frequencies returned to near-normal levels, following the disturbances that followed the Great Dimming event.
A breathing star... and three reasons for its changing brightness
The changing brightness of Betelgeuse is not a recent phenomenon. British astronomer John Herschel observed changes in its brightness as early as 1836, and it later became one of the most famous variable stars in the sky.
Tags:
science
