Why is Betelgeuse fading? No one knows.
Betelgeuse, one of the brightest and
most recognized stars in the night sky, is only half as bright as it used to be only five months ago. Such variability is likely just
normal behavior for this famously variable
supergiant, but the recent dimming has rekindled discussion on how long it may be before
Betelgeuse does go supernova. Known for its red color,
Betelgeuse is one of the few stars to be re
solved by modern telescopes, although only barely. The
featured artist's illustration imagines how Betelgeuse might look up close.
Betelgeuse is thought to have a complex and
tumultuous surface that frequently throws impressive flares. Were it to replace the Sun (
not recommended), its surface would extend out near the orbit of
Jupiter, while gas plumes would bubble out past
Neptune. Since
Betelgeuse is about 700 light years away, its eventual supernova will not endanger life on Earth even though its brightness may rival that of a full Moon. Astronomers -- both amateur and professional -- will surely
continue to monitor Betelgeuse as this new decade unfolds.
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