The Betelgeuse supernova is one of the most anticipated astronomical phenomena. Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star reaching the end of its lifespan on the well-known shoulder of Orion. Betelgeuse is one of the brightest stars in the night sky, yet it strangely began to dim in late 2019. Because the dimming was so clear, it was possible to detect it with unaided eyes. For several months, the brightness of the star waned, and watchers wondered if Betelgeuse had reached the end of its existence.
Though the red giant star’s brightness returned to normal after a few months, scientists were startled to uncover the evidence of the great dimming when they concentrated some of the most powerful telescopes on it. As it nears the end of its life, this star is on the brink of exploding. When and why is a supernova likely to occur, and would this be catastrophic for Earth? Let’s investigate.
Betelgeuse, a magnificent ruby red dazzling star, is found in the top right shoulder of the winter constellation Orion the hunter. It is the second brightest star in the constellation after the blue supergiant Rigel and is also known as Alpha Orionis. Because of its fluctuating nature and unusual name, Betelgeuse is an attractive object for star studies and observations. Even though Rigel Orion’s other great star is brighter, stars with the designation alpha are typically the brightest in their constellations.
Betelgeuse is Alpha Orionis and one of the most well-known stars due to its name, brightness, size, and reddish color. Betelgeuse is the seventh brightest star visible from most of North America, Europe, and Canada, and the tenth brightest star in the sky altogether. The Arabic phrase that inspired the name Betelgeuse is commonly translated as « the armpit of the giant. »
