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Betelgeuse and Orion: Maximum Weirdness

Betelguese is the red star in the top right quarter, and the “shoulder” of Orion.

Photo Credit
Hubble European Space Agency

Weird Changes to Betelgeuse and Orion

Bob Berman
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This past week, the star Betelgeuse (Orion’s “left shoulder”) dimmed. Most reports jumped on the supernova angle. What really happened? There’s nothing like a space mystery to spark interest …

For a quick background: A burst of gravitational waves was detected near the star Betelgeuse. At the same time, Betelgeuse has mysteriously dimmed in recent weeks. So, many folks wondered if the red supergiant was about to explode. Gravitation waves are often related to big cosmic events happening in space.

Betelgeuse Mystery

My take: It’s true that Betelgeuse is the sky’s surest first magnitude (bright) star whose nature is ripe to blow up into a supernova. 

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But while that could happen tonight, it could also happen in 100,000 years. And the current strange dimming of Betelgeuse may have nothing to do with its supernova readiness.

As of the weekend, Betelgeuse is still there. It has not exploded. Maybe not much of a mystery there. However, it’s maintaining its record low faintness. Will it get brighter again? Stay tuned.

Orion Weirdness

What’s weird is how its constellation of Orion has changed. Skygazers through the centuries are familiar with Orion’s shape—its three-in-a-row belt stars, its resemblance to a human figure, and its two bright stars.

The blue-white one in Orion’s right foot, Rigel, is still blazing away with customary brilliance.

But the bright orange star Betelgeuse, which forms the hunter’s left shoulder, has faded to a dimness not seen in over a century. As of January 13, it visually looks about the same brightness as the other shoulder marked by the star Bellatrix (say Bel-LAY-trix).

Thus, the entire constellation looks different. The stuff of dreams!

Check it out the next clear night. Orion is now out all night long. It starts lowish in the east at nightfall, and stands halfway up the southern sky at midnight. This shouldn’t be missed.

Everyone’s watching: The Hunter has become the hunted!

Learn more about Orion the Hunter which reigns in the winter sky.

Stars
About The Author

Bob Berman

Bob Berman, astronomer editor for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, covers everything under the Sun (and Moon)! Bob is the world’s most widely read astronomer and has written ten popular books. Read More from Bob Berman
 

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Comments

Paula (not verified)

4 years 10 months ago

My fascination with the night sky began as a child spending time in the country. The lure was the sheer number of stars - and seeing shooting stars! A cricket chorus only added to the enjoyment. I didn't give much thought to constellations until an evening course at the Haydn Planetarium given by Steven L. Beyer, author of "The Star Guide: A Unique System for Identifying the Brightest Stars in the Sky." (That was our "text" and remains a well-worn treasure!) Over four nights, our little group was ushered into the planetarium, which we had all to ourselves!!! The giant dome was set for either Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall. It was a killer on the neck! But it was wonderful to be gazing up listening to this expert's lecture on that season's night sky, including all sort of legends and lore. Living in a metro area, skywatching was pretty much limited *to* a planetarium! But now regardless of where you live, with cheap "energy efficient" lighting, the situation has only gotten Worse. We (humans) didn't keep our Lighting the same and experience Less Energy Use/Cost: we kept our Costs the same and just used More Light. Artificial Light. It was so sad to hear astronomer kelsey johnson's ted talk only confirming what skywatchers have known for years. For me, first there was the city, then suburban street lights and outrageously blinding lights on people's homes and garages "for security purposes." Even now, living in God's country - or so you'd think, on one side I'm near a shopping plaza with lighting to rival Yankee Stadium and on the other a stadium-lit auto dealership. It kind of takes the fun out of looking up at night, no less in oft-cloudy New England. Well, on clear nights I still try to "make an arc to Arcturus" and scout out other old friends. But these days I'm more likely to skywatch here at the almanac. :D Still, you've made me curious about Betelgeuse. I'll have to see if I can find it. (It's been cloudy so far.) Thanks for pointing out this unusual phenomena - and, in general, the column. :)

Linda (not verified)

4 years 10 months ago

Thank you. Will look tonight.