lost 10 places in this ranking ! “data-reactid =” 13 “> In reality, it started to get mysterious when, four months later, its luminosity curve still continued to descend, showing a drop of two-thirds of its maximum brightness. So in the space of a few weeks, the tenth brightest star in the earth’s sky, and one of the most remarkable of winter nights, had it lost 10 places in this ranking !
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First direct image of a star other than the Sun. Betelgeuse photographed by Hubble. © Andrea Dupree (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA), Ronald Gilliland (STScI), Nasa, ESA
Betelgeuse, a star near the end of its life
Betelgeuse would engulf Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and Jupiter! – indeed seems stained by enormous dark spots, much larger than those of the Sun (when it has any), as observations of its surface have shown (Betelgeuse is one of the very rare stars whose astronomers can distinguish the area). The red supergiant, although much younger than our star, has already reached the last stages of her life. For astrophysicists, its supernova explosion could occur soon, within 100,000 years, so it is imminent. Also, some have they wondered if this time, the giant had not arrived at the end of its evolution, with … “data-reactid =” 26 “> Why? Several hypotheses have been put forward. ‘it was a huge spot on its surface. Betelgeuse would engulf Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars and Jupiter! – indeed seems stained by enormous dark spots, much larger than those of the Sun (when it has any), as observations of its surface have shown (Betelgeuse is one of the very rare stars whose astronomers can distinguish the area). The red supergiant, although much younger than our star, has already reached the last stages of her life. For astrophysicists, its supernova explosion could occur soon, within 100,000 years, so it is imminent. Also, some have wondered if this time, the giantess had not arrived at the end of its evolution, to …
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