NASA Scientist Discovers Predicted Companion Star of Betelgeuse: What This Means for Astronomy!

For over a hundred years, scientists have speculated that Betelgeuse, the tenth brightest star in our sky, has a close companion. Recently, researchers from NASA’s Ames Research Center have confirmed this theory. Their findings appeared in *The Astrophysical Journal Letters*.

Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star located relatively close to Earth. Its brightness fluctuates, suggesting it might have a partner star. However, the intense light from Betelgeuse has made it challenging to spot anything nearby during previous attempts.

Recent studies analyzed more than a century of data on Betelgeuse. These reviews predicted the whereabouts and brightness of its potential companion. If this star existed, scientists had a limited window to observe it at a safe distance—only a few months before it would re-enter the bright glare of Betelgeuse again.

Initial searches for the companion used space telescopes but didn’t yield results. Steve Howell, a senior scientist at Ames, then proposed using the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii. This telescope, paired with a special high-resolution camera known as the ‘Alopeke speckle instrument,’ was able to see through some of the atmospheric distortions.

With this setup, Howell and his team spotted the faint companion star exactly where it was predicted to be—orbiting near Betelgeuse’s edge. “I hope our discovery inspires other astrophysicists to explore more with ground-based telescopes,” Howell remarked. He believes this could help unravel more cosmic mysteries.

This discovery is exciting for several reasons. It may help explain why other red supergiant stars exhibit changes in brightness over long periods. Howell plans to observe the companion star further, especially as it will reach its maximum separation from Betelgeuse in November 2027, creating an ideal opportunity for more detailed observations.

The newly found companion has been named “Siwarha,” which means “her bracelet” in Arabic, reflecting the meaning of Betelgeuse itself that denotes a female figure in old Arabian lore.

As space exploration advances, programs like NASA’s Exoplanet Exploration Program offer resources to enhance observational studies. This initiative supports groundbreaking discoveries made by missions such as Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope. You can find more details about this program and ongoing research at NASA’s official page on [NN-EXPLORE](https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exep/NNExplore/overview).

As we learn more about our universe, the discovery of Siwarha is a reminder of how much there is still left to explore and understand.

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Ames Research Center, Ames Research Center's Science Directorate, Astrophysics, Astrophysics Division, Exoplanet Exploration Program, General, Science & Research, Science Mission Directorate