New Images Provide the Best Evidence Yet That Supergiant Star Betelgeuse Does, Indeed, Have a Long-Theorized Stellar Companion
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Astronomers have long speculated that Betelgeuse—one of the brightest stars in the night sky—is not alone. Now, they’ve captured the best evidence yet that it’s orbited by an elusive stellar companion.
Reported by 1 outlet — Smithsonian. See all sources ↓
Astronomers have long speculated that Betelgeuse—one of the brightest stars in the night sky—is not alone. Now, they’ve captured the best evidence yet that it’s orbited by an elusive stellar companion. The sighting happened in December 2024, when the theorized companion star was predicted to be at its farthest point from Betelgeuse, as distant as possible from its bigger sibling’s limelight as seen from Earth—and therefore easier to see. The findings, published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics on July 28, could help scientists better understand Betelgeuse’s evolution and provide a long-awaited answer.
Read the full report at Smithsonian ↗
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- Astronomers have long speculated that Betelgeuse—one of the brightest stars in the night sky—is not alone. Now, they’ve captured the best evidence yet that it’s orbited by an elusive stellar companion.
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New Images Provide the Best Evidence Yet That Supergiant Star Betelgeuse Does, Indeed, Have a Long-Theorized Stellar Companion
Sources1TypeCoverageSmithsonian