Discover the Hidden Companion of Betelgeuse: What This Famous Star’s Secret Could Mean for the Cosmos | CNN

Astronomers have made an exciting discovery about Betelgeuse, a famous red supergiant star in Orion. They believe they’ve found a companion star orbiting it. This finding may help us understand why Betelgeuse’s brightness changes so much.

Betelgeuse is one of the brightest stars visible to us, known for its reddish hue. Over time, its brightness has varied, leading scientists to wonder why this happens. Recently, researchers noticed a significant dimming of Betelgeuse, causing speculation that it might explode as a supernova. This event, called the “Great Dimming,” occurred from late 2019 to early 2020. Astronomers found that a dust cloud had formed around Betelgeuse, blocking some of its light from reaching Earth.

The Great Dimming sparked new interest in Betelgeuse’s behavior. Observations showed that its brightness fluctuates in a cycle lasting about six years. A new study suggests the recent discovery of a companion star might provide answers to these mysteries. Using the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii, astronomers employed a unique imaging technique to reveal this companion star, nicknamed “Betelbuddy.”

The proposed name for this star is Siwarha, meaning “her bracelet” in Arabic. This name is fitting since Betelgeuse translates to “Hand of the Giant.” By studying the relationship between Betelgeuse and Siwarha, scientists hope to uncover more about both stars’ fates.

Betelgeuse, a supergiant, is about 700 times the radius of the sun and contains 18 times more mass. If placed in our solar system, it would engulf Earth and reach beyond Jupiter. Despite its size, Betelgeuse is relatively young at about 10 million years, while the sun is around 4.5 billion years old. Its massive size has led it to exhaust hydrogen fuel at its core, causing it to expand as it nears the end of its life.

Interestingly, Betelgeuse’s brightness changes occur roughly every 416 days, but it also shows a longer cycle of around 2,170 days. For decades, this longer variation remained unexplained until recent studies proposed the existence of a companion star influencing these fluctuations.

Past attempts to observe Betelgeuse and its potential companion faced challenges. The Hubble Space Telescope and NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory found no signs of a companion star due to Betelgeuse’s overwhelming brightness. The research team finally succeeded using a technique known as speckle imaging, which captures many short exposures to counteract atmospheric distortions.

During one observation in December, they spotted a faint blue glow where they expected the companion star to be. This star, still in formation, has 1.5 times the mass of our sun and is much dimmer than Betelgeuse. The new discovery marks an important moment: it’s the first time a companion star has been classified as orbiting a supergiant star this closely.

Feedback from experts shows the significance of this finding. Steve Howell, the lead author of the study, expressed surprise at how clear the companion star was once processed. Future observations will help confirm this star’s presence. Edward Guinan, an astronomy professor, emphasized that tracking the companion’s movement will provide definitive proof of its orbit.

In around 2027, astronomers expect to have another chance to observe the companion as it moves farther from Betelgeuse, making it easier to spot. This companion star could provide insights into similar stars and their formation, helping us grasp the complexities of stellar systems.

As we await more findings, Betelgeuse continues to be a source of mystery. Its eventual explosion as a supernova will significantly impact its companion star, either engulfing it or leading to its destruction. Scientists remain keen to observe this dynamic duo, pushing boundaries in our understanding of the universe.

For more detailed scientific discussions, feel free to delve into the findings published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

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