Companion Star โคDiscovered orbiting Betelgeuse, Reveals Cluesโ to โRed Giant’s Erratic behavior
Astronomersโฃ have identified a previously unknown star in aโข close orbit around Betelgeuse, one of the brightest and most studied red giants in the night sky.โฃ This discovery offersโ a potential explanation for the dramatic fluctuations in Betelgeuse’s brightness, which have puzzled scientists for decades. The companion star, detected โthrough observations โof Betelgeuse’s โradial velocity, is believed to โคbe a main-sequence star or a red โdwarf.
This pairing is notably significant because โขthe companion’s gravitational pull is expected to cause strong tidal โฃforces on Betelgeuse.โ These forces are predicted to โคcreate internal waves and turbulence within the red โฃgiant, contributing to the observed variations in its luminosity.Furthermore, astronomers estimate that within approximately 10,000 years, Betelgeuse will engulf its companionโ due to โthese tidal interactions.
The โresearch team anticipates further observations โof the Betelgeuse system when it is indeed next โfavorably positioned for study inโ November 2027. These future observations will allow for a more detailed investigation โof the orbital characteristics and the interaction between โขthe โคtwo stars. โUnderstandingโ thisโค dynamic relationship could provide crucial insightsโฃ into the late โstagesโค of stellar evolution for massiveโค stars like Betelgeuse.
Captivating โFact
Betelgeuse isโ immense – roughly 700 times larger than โour Sun inโฃ diameter.If Betelgeuse wereโค placed atโฃ the center of our solar system, its surface would extend beyond theโ asteroid belt, consuming Mars and โคall the planets closer to the Sun.
Source: โ This article is a re-publication developed from Space Scoop Universe Awareness Edition of Indonesia. Space Scoop Indonesia edition Dite.