In the course of human history, Betelgeuse, a colossal star, is the first to be observed to gradually decline and eventually disappear. We know that stars have a lifespan of thousands of years. This emphasizes the importance of star Betelgeuse.
In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about the star Betelgeuse, its characteristics, origin and death.
Betelgeuse Star
The enigmatic star Betelgeuse has baffled stargazers for centuries with its unpredictable behavior. Despite attempts to decode its movements, scientists are constantly surprised by the star's unexpected changes. Recently, astronomers have made a new discovery about Betelgeuse: its color is undergoing a transformation.
The red supergiant star is so massive because it is about to explode as a supernova. Until now, it was believed he had tens of thousands of years to live, but a new study suggests it could be only a few decades.
The red supergiant star Betelgeuse, also known as Alpha Orionis, is located in the constellation Orion. Even from an astronomical perspective, It is extremely distant: 642,5 light years. Although it is very far away, it is the ninth brightest star in the sky. The reason is that it is huge: about 900 million kilometers in diameter. It is 20 times larger than the sun.
According to Edward Guinan, an astronomer at Villanova University in Pennsylvania who has extensively researched Betelgeuse, this particular star is notoriously elusive. "He cheats on you constantly," he explains. Just when you think you've finally figured it out, it will unexpectedly transform before your very eyes.
Located within the constellation Orion, the red supergiant is the second brightest star in the group. This star is approximately 10,01 million years old and is located at a distance of approximately 643 light years.
The "omen of death" is a phrase that has long been associated with the idea of a warning or sign that indicates that someone's imminent death is approaching. This phrase is often used to describe a premonition or warning that something terrible is coming and has been a part of many cultures throughout history.
The star that comes to an end
As time passes, scientists better understand the process by which a star comes to an end. Typically, this process takes millions of years to complete. It begins when the star sheds its outer layers and eventually culminates in a catastrophic event known as a supernova.
In 2019, Betelgeuse showed comparable behavior when its luminosity was reduced due to the release of part of its surface. However, The behavior of this star is somewhat atypical since it expelled material without suffering a supernova. This discharge, which caused the loss of a significant part of its mass, continues to impact the star and cause chaos within it.
The occurrence of a large mass ejection from the surface of a star is an unprecedented event that we have never witnessed before. Consequently, we are dealing with a certain degree of unknown information. However, the Hubble telescope has allowed us to observe this completely new phenomenon and analyze the surface details, giving us a unique opportunity to witness the development of stellar evolution in real time. According to NASA, this is a remarkable feat.
The color degradation of the star Betelgeuse
Over the centuries, the color of the star has undergone a transformation from that of a white dwarf to that of a red giant, due to the cooling and expansion processes it underwent. These color changes are not typical of most other stars, except Betegeulse, which, according to ancient stellar records, has also undergone a similar transformation. This deviant behavior is not consistent with what was previously believed about the behavior of aging stars.
Today, Betelgeuse is exhibiting peculiar behavior, as noted by Andrea Dupree of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts. According to her, the interior of the star appears to undulate in an unusual way.
Astronomers have concluded that humanity has achieved a remarkable achievement in recording the various stages of a star's life cycle. This is an unprecedented historical event because the human eye has achieved what was previously considered impossible: the ability to observe the gradual decline of a star.
Would a supernova have effects on Earth?
Should a Betelgeuse supernova occur, there has been much speculation about the effects it would have on Earth.
Research conducted by scientists on Betelgeuse It still needs to be reviewed by its astronomical peers to better understand its nature. However, despite this, several uncertainties are already circulating on social networks. A common question is: "What would happen to Earth if Betelgeuse exploded ahead of schedule?"
Supernovae are incredibly powerful phenomena that manifest across the vast expanse of the universe. It is likely that only one supernova will occur in the vicinity of our planet. Currently, supernovae are far enough temporally and spatially from Earth that scientists have established "safe distances" between Earth and these explosive events. However, researchers have conducted experiments to determine the boundaries of this safe zone and the findings have been promising.
According to a publication in the Astrophysical Journal portal, it has been determined that a supernova can be observed from Earth without catastrophic consequences if it is at a distance of 150 light years. However, if a supernova were to occur Just 40 light years away, the Earth would be destroyed. In the case of Betelgeuse, it is 600 light years away. In the event of an explosion, in a thousand years our future generations could witness this astronomical event without any harm coming to them.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the star Betelgeuse and its characteristics.