Supernova in the constellation Orion. Orion's Light

Betelgeuse (α Orionis) is a bright star in the constellation Orion. A red supergiant, a semi-regular variable star whose brightness varies from 0.2 to 1.2 magnitudes and averages about 0.7 m. The red color of the star, easily visible when observed with the naked eye, corresponds to the color index B-V = 1.86 m. The minimum luminosity of Betelgeuse is 80 thousand times greater than the luminosity of the Sun, and the maximum is 105 thousand times greater. The distance to the star is, according to various estimates, from 495 to 640 light years. This is one of the largest stars known to astronomers: if it were placed in the place of the Sun, then at its minimum size it would fill the orbit of Mars, and at its maximum it would reach the orbit of Jupiter.

The angular diameter of Betelgeuse, according to modern estimates, is about 0.055 arcseconds. If we take the distance to Betelgeuse to be 570 light years, then its diameter will exceed the diameter of the Sun by approximately 950-1000 times. Betelgeuse has a mass of approximately 17 solar masses.

Comparison of the sizes of the Sun and Betelgeuse

Presumably the name came from the distorted Arabic “Yad al Jauza” (“the twin’s hand” or even his “armpit”), which in medieval Latin, due to an error by a copyist who did not know the intricacies of translation from Arabic, was transformed first into Bedalgeuze, and then gradually into the present famous Betelgeuse.

The modern constellation Gemini should not be confused with the Arabic one. Orion, in which Betelgeuse is located, was part of Gemini among the Arabs.

An interesting fact is that over 16 years of observations since 1993, the radius of Betelgeuse has decreased by as much as 15 percent, while its brightness has not changed. Scientists have not yet given a definite answer why this happened. Versions have been put forward both about the inaccuracies of observations of the star, and that perhaps it has an irregular shape and simply turned to us the other way during the observations. Since Betelgeuse is approximately 570 light years away from the Sun, it is currently not possible to collect more accurate data on its characteristics.

The future of the star is also very vague. Perhaps the fate of a supernova awaits it, or perhaps this red supergiant will be lucky and shed her shell in the form of a planetary nebula, and she herself will turn into a white dwarf. If the star is destined to explode, then a supernova comparable in brightness to the Moon will be observed on Earth for several months, and then the star will disappear forever for earthlings, but after centuries a nebula will become visible in this place.

However, if one of Betelgeuse's poles points toward Earth, there will be more significant impacts. A stream of gamma rays and other cosmic particles will be sent to Earth. There will be strong auroras and a possible significant decrease in the amount of ozone in the ozone layer, with subsequent adverse effects on life on the planet. In the case of such an orientation relative to the solar system, the flare will also be many times brighter than if the star's axis is directed away from us.

In 1980, Shu-ren, Jianming and Jin-yi, during excavations, found Chinese reports dating back to the 1st century BC. e., from which it follows that the color of Betelgeuse is white or yellow. At the same time, Ptolemy in 150 AD. e. describes that it is a red star. Fang Lizhi, a Chinese astrophysicist, suggested that Betelgeuse may have evolved into a red giant star at that time. Stars are known to change color from white to yellow to red after they use up the hydrogen in their cores. Shu-ren suggested that Betelgeuse may have changed its color when it shed a shell of dust and gas that is visible even now and is still expanding. So, if their theory is correct, it is unlikely that Betelgeuse will go supernova anytime soon because a star typically remains a red giant for tens of thousands of years.

Who among you would not dream of witnessing the epoch-making departure from the earth's horizon of one of the most prominent stars?

According to some sources, the right shoulder of the sky hunter can at any moment emit its last breath in the form of a long and bright supernova explosion, leaving behind an empty space invisible to the naked eye.

This will completely change the appearance of the sky that so beautifully enlivens the winter sky of our latitudes. Should we expect this event in our lifetime, and does it pose a threat to our planet?

According to a number of news reports, a huge supernova explosion could ignite at any second. Betelgeuse will increase its brightness thousands of times and will illuminate the sky for several months until it gradually goes out and leaves behind an expanding one with an invisible neutron star or black hole at its center. Such a cosmic catastrophe does not threaten us with anything serious, unless one of the poles of the exploding star is directed towards the Earth. The flow of gamma rays and charged particles will create some problems with the magnetic environment and the ozone layer of the planet and its atmosphere. Is there any reason to trust such information, or is this just another media horror story?

Probability of explosion

Scientists do not deny the likelihood of such an outcome. However, it is not known for certain whether the star will explode tomorrow, or in a million years, and it is also unknown whether it will explode at all. Despite all the power of modern astronomy, knowledge concerning the life of stars seems to be reliving its infancy. The paradox of the existence of giants and the problems of modeling star formation in close systems cast doubt on the existing scientific paradigms about the life of stars. The discovery of objects that do not fit into the framework of existing theories rather creates more questions than answers. An example of this is even the well-known Betelgeuse, about which, it would seem, we should know everything.

Unknown Betelgeuse

What do we know about Betelgeuse? An amateur astronomer, pointing his finger at the reddish light, will tell about its colossal size, variability and other publicly available facts. And, in order to excite the listener’s imagination, he will add that if we place it in the place of the Sun, then all the terrestrial planets, and perhaps even , would be in the depths of the supergiant. In this he will be right, but no matter how strange it may be, a professional astronomer will operate with almost the same set of knowledge about the red giant. For example, the exact size, mass and distance to Betelgeuse have not yet been established.

The distance to the star is estimated at such rough limits as 420-650, some sources give even terrifying boundaries from 180 to 1300 light years. Estimates of the mass and radius are also not accurate and vary within 13-17 solar masses and 950-1200 solar radii, respectively. Such large discrepancies are explained by the fact that, due to its remoteness, the distance to Betelgeuse cannot be measured using the annual parallax method. In addition, Betelgeuse is neither a double star nor part of any close cluster. This feature does not allow us to correctly estimate the mass and other characteristics of the star, including absolute luminosity.

Even the fact that Betelgeuse became the first star (naturally, after the Sun) whose angular size was measured and a detailed image of its disk was obtained, in fact, does not give us any significant data regarding its parameters and nature.

The situation is similar with the entire “stellar” section of astronomy. Scientists not only have to develop new models that describe the mechanisms of formation, evolution and death of stars, but also radically reshape the old ones. For example, how to explain the existence of recently discovered stars with a mass of 200-250 solar masses, if the upper theoretical limit until recently was estimated at 150 solar masses? How can we explain the nature of gamma-ray bursts? Other discoveries are just around the corner that will continue to baffle astronomers.

Will there be an explosion?

Returning to Betelgeuse, we can give a unique verdict to those sources that declare the imminent appearance of the brightest “farewell fireworks” in our sky. Astronomers make it clear that although such an event has a very real probability of happening before our eyes, this probability is extremely small, and it is not possible to evaluate it. Naturally, the media, trying to revive the public, rework these cautious statements in their own way.

Supernova explosions are among those cosmic events that are observed de facto. There has never been a case in science where a supernova explosion was recorded, which was predicted and expected in advance. For this reason, astronomers can only indirectly judge the processes preceding the explosion.

With regards to Betelgeuse, scientists confidently state that the star is in its final life stage, when the current percentage of carbon and subsequent heavy elements can no longer support stable thermonuclear processes. According to existing models, this will most likely lead to the termination of the hydrodynamic equilibrium of the star, in other words, to a supernova explosion. There is also the possibility that Betelgeuse will end its life not so brightly, but will simply gradually shed its shell, turning into an oxygen-neon white dwarf.

In any case, modern science is unable to assign an exact date for the explosion or deny the very fact that it will happen. The resulting media frenzy about the appearance of a “second Sun” erupted after controversy arose in the global astronomical community over the rapid decline in the average brightness and size of Betelgeuse. Many astronomers confidently stated that this phenomenon is explained by an imminent supernova explosion, which, by cosmic standards, is about to occur within the next two millennia. Others are more restrained in their predictions, and explain the fading of the star by certain temporary or periodic processes. This unannounced astronomical dispute shows how much new and unknown scientists have to learn.

A dream on a galactic scale

Undoubtedly, a bright light in the sky would inspire people to forget about how insignificant they are in the Universe. One has only to think for a moment that this same explosion could be observed by possible inhabitants of other distant systems of our vast galaxy. Such stellar news will bring real, invaluable benefits to astronomers. If such a close and expected supernova explosion occurs in our lifetime, curious glances of all types of telescopes and other equipment will be directed in its direction. In frantic delight, scientists will fill their databases with tons of valuable information coming from the light of the explosion. Every day, information about the next sensational discovery will be heard from all corners of the world. But these are just vague dreams.

Reality dictates its own rules. The explosion of Betelgeuse is not only something to be afraid of or even expected to see, in fact, one can only dream about it. Moreover, a brighter light, if it lit up before our eyes, would hardly be comparable in brightness to the full moon and would not bring us any significant harm. In the meantime, we have the opportunity to continue to observe the red star of Orion and hope that astronomers will expand their knowledge without such rare and amazing events.

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List of the brightest stars

> Betelgeuse

Betelgeuse- the second brightest star of the Orion constellation and a red supergiant: description and characteristics with photos, facts, color, coordinates, latitude, supernova.

Betelgeuse(Alpha Oriioni) is the second brightest star in Orion and the 9th in the sky. It is a red supergiant, 643 light years distant. Ends its existence and will explode as a supernova in the near future.

Here is a large, bright and massive star that is easy to spot in winter. Lives in the shoulder of the constellation Orion opposite Bellatrix. You will know where the star Betelgeuse is if you use our online star map.

Betelgeuse is considered a variable star and can periodically eclipse Rigel. The name comes from the Arabic translation “hand of Orion”. The modern Arabic "al-Jabbar" means "giant". The translators mistook Y for B and the name "Betelgeuse" appeared merely as a mistake. Next you will learn about the distance to the star Betelgeuse, its latitude, coordinates, class, declination, color and luminosity level with photos and diagrams.

Betelgeuse is located in the right shoulder of Orion (top left). If you place it in our system, it will go beyond the asteroid belt and touch the orbital path of Jupiter.

It belongs to the spectral class M2Iab, where “lab” indicates that we are dealing with a supergiant with intermediate luminosity. The absolute value reaches -6.02. The mass ranges between 7.7-20 times that of the Sun. It is 10 million years old and has an average luminosity 120,000 times that of the Sun.

The apparent value varies from 0.2-1.2 over 400 days. Because of this, it periodically bypasses Procyon and takes the 7th position in brightness. At its peak luminosity it eclipses Rigel, and during its dim period it drops below Deneb and becomes 20th.

The absolute magnitude of Betelgeuse varies from -5.27 to -6.27. The outer layers expand and contract, causing temperatures to rise and fall. The pulsation occurs due to an unstable atmospheric layer. When absorbed, it absorbs more energy.

There are several pulsation cycles with short-term differences of 150-300 days, and long-term ones cover 5.7 years. The star is rapidly losing mass, so it is covered by a huge shell of material, making observation difficult.

In 1985, two satellites were noticed in orbit around the star, but they could not be confirmed at that time. Betelgeuse is easy to find because it is located in Orion. From September to March it is visible from any point on Earth except 82°S. For those in the northern hemisphere, the star will rise in the east after sunset in January. In summer, it hides behind the Sun, so it cannot be seen.

Supernova and star Betelgeuse

Betelgeuse has reached the end of its evolutionary development and will explode as a Type II supernova in the next million years. This will result in a visual magnitude of -12 and last for a couple of weeks. The last supernova, SN 1987A, could be seen without instruments, although it occurred in the Large Magellanic Cloud, 168,000 light-years away. Betelgeuse will not harm the system, but will provide an unforgettable celestial spectacle.

Although the star is young, it has already practically used up its fuel supply. Now it contracts and increases internal heating. This caused helium to fuse into carbon and oxygen. As a result, an explosion will occur and a 20-kilometer neutron star will remain.

The ending of a star always depends on its mass. The exact figure remains vague, but many believe it is 10 times larger than the Sun.

Facts about the star Betelgeuse

Let's look at interesting facts about the star Betelgeuse with a photo and a view of its stellar neighbors in the constellation Orion. If you want more details, then use our 3D models, which allow you to independently navigate among the stars of the galaxy.

Part of two winter asterisms. Occupies the upper corner of the Winter Triangle.

The remaining angles are assigned to Procyon and Sirius. Betelgeuse is also part of the Winter Hexagon along with Sirius, Procyon, Pollux, Capella, Aldebaran and Rigel.

In 2013, Betelgeuse was thought to crash into a “cosmic wall” of interstellar dust in 12,500 years.

Betelgeuse is part of the Orion OB1 Association, whose stars share regular motion and uniform speed in space. The red supergiant is believed to have changed its motion because its path does not intersect with star formation sites. May be a runaway member that appeared approximately 10-12 million years ago in the Orion molecular cloud.

The star moves through space with an acceleration of 30 km/s. As a result, a shock wave with a length of 4 light years was formed. The wind pushes out huge volumes of gas at a speed of 17 km/s. They managed to display it in 1997, and its formation is approximately 30,000 years old.

Alpha Orionis is the brightest source in the near-infrared region of the sky. Only 13% of the energy is displayed in visible light. In 1836, John Herschel noted stellar variability. In 1837, the star eclipsed Rigel and repeated this in 1839. It was because of this that in 1603 Johann Bayer mistakenly gave Betelgeuse the designation “alpha” (as the brightest).

The star Betelgeuse is believed to have begun life 10 million years ago as a hot blue O-type star. And the initial mass exceeded the solar mass by 18-19 times. Until the 20th century, the name was written as "Betelge" and "Betelgeuse".

Betelgeuse has been recorded in different cultures under different names. In Sanskrit it is written as “bahu” because the Hindus saw a deer or antelope in the constellation. In China, Shenxia is the “fourth star,” as a reference to Orion’s belt. In Japan - Heike-boshi as a tribute to the Heike clan, which took the star as a symbol of their family.

In Brazil, the star was called Zhilkavai - the hero whose leg was torn apart by his wife. In northern Australia it was nicknamed "Owl Eyes", and in southern Africa - a lion hunting three zebras.

Betelgeuse also appears in various feature films and books. So the hero of Beetlejuice shares a name with the star. Betelgeuse was the home system of Zaford Beeblebrox from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Kurt Vonnegut starred in Sirens of Titan, as did Pierre Boulle in Planet of the Apes.

Betelgeuse star size

It is difficult to determine the parameters, but the diameter covers approximately 550-920 solar. The star is so huge that it shows a disk in telescopic observations.

The radius was measured using an infrared spatial interferometer, which showed a mark of 3.6 AU. In 2009, Charles Townes announced that the star had shrunk by 15% since 1993, but had remained unchanged in brightness. This is most likely caused by shell activity in the expanded atmospheric layer. Scientists have found at least 6 shells around the star. In 2009, a gas emission was recorded at a distance of 30 AU.

Alpha Orionis became the second star after the Sun where it was possible to calculate the angular size of the photosphere. This was done by A. Michelson and F. Paze in 1920. But the numbers were inaccurate due to attenuation and measurement errors.

The diameter is difficult to calculate due to the fact that we are dealing with a pulsating variable, which means the indicator will always change. In addition, it is difficult to determine the stellar edge and photosphere, since the object is surrounded by a shell of ejected material.

It was previously believed that Betelgeuse has the largest angular diameter. But later they carried out a calculation in R Doradus and now Betelgeuse is in 3rd place. The radius extends to 5.5 AU, but can be reduced to 4.5 AU.

Distance of the star Betelgeuse

Betelgeuse lives 643 light-years away in the constellation Orion. In 1997, the figure was thought to be 430 light years, and in 2007 it was put at 520. But the exact figure remains a mystery, because direct parallax measurements show 495 light years, and adding natural radio emission shows 640 light years. Data from 2008 obtained by the VLA suggested 643 light years.

Color index – (B-V) 1.85. That is, if you wanted to know what color Betelgeuse is, then this is a red star.

The photosphere has an extended atmosphere. The result is blue emission lines rather than absorption lines. Even ancient observers knew about the color red. So Ptolemy in the 2nd century gave a clear description of the color. But 3 centuries before him, Chinese astronomers described the color yellow. This does not indicate an error, because previously the star could have been a yellow supergiant.

Temperature of the star Betelgeuse

The surface of Betelgeuse warms up to 3140-4641 K. The atmospheric index is 3450 K. As the gas expands, it cools.

Physical characteristics and orbit of the star Betelgeuse

• Betelgeuse - Alpha Orionis.
• Constellation: Orion.
• Coordinates: 05h 55m 10.3053s (right ascension), + 07° 24" 25.426" (declination).
• Spectral class: M2Iab.
• Magnitude (visible spectrum): 0.42 (0.3-1.2).
• Magnitude: (J-band): -2.99.
• Absolute value: -6.02.
• Distance: 643 light years.
• Variable type: SR (semi-regular variable).
• Massiveness: 7.7-20 solar.
• Radius: 950-1200 solar.
• Luminosity: 120,000 solar.
• Temperature mark: 3140-3641 K.
• Rotation speed: 5 km/s.
• Age: 7.3 million years.
• Name: Betelgeuse, Alpha Orionis, α Orionis, 58 Oroni, HR 2061, BD + 7° 1055, HD 39801, FK5 224, HIP 27989, SAO 113271, GC 7451, CCDM J05552+0724AP, AAVSO 0549+07.

The star Betelgeuse is a red supergiant from the class of fixed stars. He is at the end of his life. In the near future, the star will turn into a powerful supernova. Scientists suggest that in the earth's sky it will take the place of the second moon for a couple of weeks. This will happen because it is located near the Sun.

Red giant constellation Betelgeuse

Betelgeuse and Rigel are two supergiant stars in the constellation Orion. The former is a red supergiant, while Rigel is a blue supergiant.

Alpha Orionis is variable. Its brightness in the night sky ranges from 0.4 to 1.4 magnitudes. Therefore, Betelgeuse and Rigel seem to compete with each other in terms of brightness. At the same time, Alpha Orionis can sometimes outshine Rigel in luminosity.

The name of the red supergiant should have been different. But because of an error, the red giant received its real name.

Orion constellation

How the name came about

The name of the red giant Orion comes from Arab countries. In Arabic, the name of the giant sounded like “Yad-al-Jauza”, that is, translated as “twin’s hand”. In the Middle Ages, the Arabic hieroglyph that sounded like “th” was confused with the hieroglyph “b”.

Therefore, the erroneous meaning in Arabic “Beteljuz” was taken as a basis. Translated as “house of twins.” In Arab astronomy, the constellation Orion is called "Gemini".

Attention! Not to be confused with the real constellation Gemini.

In addition to its real name, the red giant goes by other names:

• Tower (Persian for "hand");
• Claria (Coptic for "bandage");
• Ad-Dira (from Arabic “hand”);
• Ardra (Hindi language).

How to see in the night sky

Betelgeuse can be seen in the night sky of Earth's Northern Hemisphere.

The red supergiant is in the constellation Orion, which means it occupies a central position in the winter sky. It can be seen even in the city sky in February.

This constellation is called winter because only in the cold season does it occupy a position on the southern side of the sky. Astronomers call this a culmination. Any luminary that is located on the southern side of the sky is convenient for an astronomy enthusiast to observe.

It appears in January in the east immediately after Sunset sets. On March 10th, people will be able to see it in the south in the evening. At this time of year, Betelgeuse is visible in all regions of the Earth.

Important! In Sydney, Cape Town, Bueno Aires, the red supergiant rises 49 degrees in the sky.

Now about where the star is.

If you look directly at Orion's belt, Betelgeuse is to the left and above the other three, which lie on the same straight line. The star's light is reddish. The red giant is the hunter's left shoulder, and Bellatrix is ​​the right.

Main characteristics

In terms of brightness, the red supergiant ranks 9th in the night sky. Its brightness varies from 0.2 to 1.9 magnitude over the course of 2070 days. Belongs to the spectral class m1-2 la lab.

Star size

The radius of the star is equal to 600 times the diameter of the Sun. She is 1400 times larger than him. And the mass is equal to 20 solar masses. And the volume is 300 million times greater than the volume of the Earth.

The star's atmosphere is rarefied, and the density is much lower than the Sun. Its angular diameter is 0.050 arcseconds. It changes depending on the luminosity of the giant.

The astronomers measured the radius using a spatial IR interferometer. The rotation period of the star was calculated to be 18 years.

Important! In 1920, Beteljuz became the first after the Sun to have its angular diameter measured by astronomers.

Comparison of the size of Betelgeuse with other space objects

Temperature

The temperature of the red supergiant is 3000 degrees Kelvin (2726.8 Celsius). The red supergiant is much cooler than the Sun. Since the temperature of a solar system star is 5547 degrees Kelvin (5273.9 degrees Celsius). It is the low temperature that gives the star its reddish hue.

Remoteness

The red supergiant is located 643 light years from the solar system. It's far enough.

When a star explodes and forms a supernova, which astronomers predict for this red supergiant, the waves that reach the Earth will in no way disturb the life activity of all organisms on the planet.

The main characteristics can be found in the table:

Facts about the red giant

Betelgeuse's radius is variable. It changes shape from time to time and has an asymmetrical shell with a slight convexity. This says two things:

1. The star loses its own mass every year due to jets of gas escaping from the surface.
2. There is a companion inside her that forces her to behave eccentrically.

Scientists observing the star have discovered that since 1993, its size has decreased by 15%, but its brightness has remained the same.

About 5 shells were found around the giant. And already in the ninth year of twenty-one, another emission of 30 astronomical units was discovered.

Astronomers predicted in 2012 that the giant could enter interstellar dust within twelve thousand years. And also a year before, one of the scientists included it in the menu of disasters that it could provoke in 2012.

Attention! Until now, scientists cannot determine the systematic changes in the diameter of the star, since it is pulsating.

Scientists suggest the following reasons for the decrease in size:

• changes in the brightness of many areas on the surface of a supergiant. This can cause a decrease on one side and an increase on the other side in the brightness of the star. On Earth, this can be taken as a change in diameter;
• they suggest that large stars are not spherical, so Betelgeuse has a bulge;
• The third assumption is that what astronomers see is not the real diameter of the star. In fact, it may be a layer of dense gas. And its movements create the appearance of a change in the size of Alpha Orion.

Attention! Alpha Orionis is surrounded by a gas nebula, which astronomers could not notice for a long time due to the bright light emitted by Betelgeuse.

Another interesting fact is the entry of Betelgeuse into the winter triangle, which consists of Procyon, Sirius and this supergiant.

Winter triangle

In the culture of the peoples of the world

The star Betelgeuse has been called differently in different peoples of the world. Each nationality has its own beliefs and myths created by distant ancestors about the emergence of a star.

For example, in Brazil they call it Zhilkavai in honor of the hero whose leg was torn apart by his wife.

In Australia, she was given a two-word name, “owl eyes.” In the imagination of the Australians, the two stars located on the shoulders of Orion reminded them of the eyes of these night birds.

In South Africa it is called the lion that hunts three zebras.

In works and films

The red supergiant is mentioned in works, poems and films by Russian and foreign authors. For example, in the well-known film “Planet of the Apes” the planet Sorora revolves around this star. It was from here that primates with intelligence flew to Earth.

One of the heroes of the acclaimed film "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" was born and lives on a planet whose sun is Beteljuz.

Danish writer Niels Nielsen also mentioned this star in his works. His novel “Planet for Sale” describes how “planet hunters” stole a small satellite from Alpha Orion and brought it to Earth.

Back in 1956, Varlam Shalamov mentioned the star in his “Atomic Poem”.

Viktor Nekrasov, who wrote the work “In the Trenches of Stalingrad,” also writes about this star. This is how the lines sound: “Two steps away from us is a train with fuel, during the day it is clearly visible from here. All the time, thin streams of kerosene ooze from bullet holes in the tank. The soldiers run there at night to fill the lamps. According to an old habit from childhood, I look for familiar constellations in the sky. Orion - four bright stars and a belt of three smaller ones. And one more, very small, almost unnoticeable. One of them is called Betelgeuse, I don’t remember which one. There must be Aldebaran somewhere, but I have already forgotten where it is. Someone puts a hand on my shoulder. I shudder."

The star is also mentioned in Kurt Vonnegut's famous novel “The Sirens of Titan”. The hero of the work exists in the form of a wave that pulsates in a spiral around the Sun and Betelgeuse.

Roger Zelazny has a novel called The Gloomy Light. The action of this work takes place on one of the red giant planets at the moment before a supernova explosion.

Betelgeuse is mentioned in Arseny Tarkovsky's poem "Star Catalog", written in 1998.

The star Beetlejuice is mentioned in the film Blade Runner. When the hero Roy Batty dies, he calls it Orion's shoulder: “I saw something that you people simply won’t believe. Burning warships on the approaches to Orion's shoulder. I saw C-rays...flickering in the darkness near the Tannhäuser Gate. And all these moments will disappear in time like tears in the rain. It's time to die."

One of the writers goes by the first and last name See Betelgeuse. He has a poem dedicated to Alpha Orion.

Ukrainian rock band Tabula Rasa dedicated a song to the red giant - “Rendezvous on Betelgeuse.”

Comparison with the Sun

Compared to the Sun, Betelgeuse is many times larger.

If placed in the solar system, it will occupy the distance to Jupiter. As its diameter decreases, it will border on the orbit of Mars.

Betelgeuse is 100,000 times brighter than Earth. And the age is 10 billion years. While the Sun is only about 5 billion years old.

Scientists are increasingly wondering about Betelgeuse's behavior. Because the red giant behaves the same as the Sun. It has localized points where the temperature is higher than another surface and places where the temperature is lower.

Despite the fact that the shape of the Sun is spherical, and that of the red supergiant is in the form of a potato. This causes confusion in scientific circles.

Sun and Betelgeuse

Betelgeuse explosion

The red giant is going through its final stages of burning carbon. Knowing what processes occur inside the star, scientists can tell the future of Betelgeuse. For example, with a rapid explosion, iron, nickel, and gold are formed inside it. A slow explosion produces gases such as carbon, oxygen, and barium.

Scientists believe the red supergiant is poised to go supernova. In another few thousand years, or maybe earlier, the star will explode, releasing the released energy onto nearby space objects. Since it will release as much energy as the Sun releases during its entire life.

Betelgeuse explosion

The solar system in which the Earth is located is located far from the Red Giant. Therefore, it is assumed that the explosion will not create problems. However, its glow will be noticeable on Earth. This explosion can be observed by people with the naked eye.

The flare will remain in the sky for a long time in the form of an additional moon at night. After a few centuries, a black fool or neutrino star is formed from the exploding red giant. And a new nebula will appear around it.

According to another hypothesis, astronomers suggest that the explosion will still cause harm to the Earth and its inhabitants.

First of all, such an amount of energy released from Betelgeuse can disrupt the operation of satellites, mobile communications and the Internet on the planet. The aurora will become even brighter.

Moreover, an explosion can lead to adverse effects on nature, leading to the extinction of some animal species and a slight cooling. But this is all speculation.

According to other sources, Betelgeuse will shed its shell and become a white dwarf. This hypothesis is more plausible.

Beetlejuice is already losing its composition in huge quantities, gradually forming clouds of gas and dust around itself.

At the same time, the bulge of the star is cause for concern. It is believed that this is another object, and not a stream that carries particles of Alpha Orion into space. If this hypothesis is confirmed, then we should expect a collision between Betelgeuse and this object.

This bulge, which scientists still call a gas plume, shed the mantle, forming a strong flow of the interstellar medium.

If the explosion occurs, then people will be spectators for the first time in the incredible show of a supernova explosion. Because such explosions of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy occur once every few thousand years.

There is another hypothesis that Betelgeuse has already exploded.

And its explosion will be seen only five hundred years later by the descendants of modern people. Because it is too far from the Solar System. Its real light will not reach Earth until several hundred years later. According to the law of energy propagation in the vacuum of space, the further away the source, the later people will see its light.