WOH G64 is a fascinating red supergiant star located in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Recently, it sparked interest due to unusual dimming and changing spectral features. Some scientists thought it might be transitioning into a rare yellow hypergiant phase, a sign it was nearing its end. But new research led by Dr. Jacco van Loon from Keele University suggests otherwise.
From late 2024 to late 2025, Dr. van Loon’s team used the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) to examine WOH G64 closely. Their findings contradicted earlier assumptions. Instead of showing signs of increased temperature typical of yellow hypergiants, they observed strong signs of titanium oxide molecules. These can only exist in cooler conditions, pointing out that WOH G64 is still a red supergiant.
Interestingly, WOH G64 is not alone. It is part of a binary system, meaning there’s another star nearby. This smaller, hotter star interacts with WOH G64’s atmosphere, stretching it out and creating unusual emissions. Some of the material from WOH G64 seems to be forming a disc around this companion star. The new dust cloud that raised alarms in 2024 is likely due to this interaction, not signs of an impending explosion.
This instance illustrates how binary systems can mimic indicators of stellar death. Signs like fading light, spectral shifts, and dust formation were all due to the effects of the companion star, not an internal crisis. Dr. van Loon likens it to a “phoenix” rising from ashes, driven by outside forces instead of internal changes.
While WOH G64 will eventually meet a supernova fate, the new insights suggest this is not happening anytime soon. Further observations showed that previous signals thought to indicate a nearing collapse were misleading.
For more on WOH G64 and its discoveries, you can check out [Keele University’s report](https://www.keele.ac.uk/about/news/2026/january/cosmic-mystery/keele-led-team-reveals-massive-star-woh-g64-is-still-a-red-supergiant-.php) or learn about the implications of binary systems in stellar evolution from [NASA](https://www.nasa.gov). These findings not only challenge our understanding of massive stars but also remind us how the universe can surprise us in unexpected ways.
