Betelgeuse is not alone
Orion constellation's red supergiant has a companion star, say astronomers The post Betelgeuse is not alone appeared first on Physics World .
Astronomers have discovered compelling evidence of a companion star orbiting Betelgeuse, the brightest star in the constellation Orion. This finding provides new insights into the red supergiant star's unpredictable fluctuations in brightness, which have puzzled scientists for years. Betelgeuse, situated approximately 548 light-years away, is visible from locations with significant light pollution.
Known as a red supergiant, the star is typically the 10th brightest in the night sky. Its brightness varies over a 420-day cycle, alongside a longer 2200-day pattern, leading to speculation about the influence of a companion star on cosmic dust distribution and light emission.
Researchers from the Observatoire de Paris – PSL utilized the SPHERE instrument on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile to seek this potential companion. Despite initial doubts about the companion's detectability due to its predicted low mass, the team managed to identify a "Betelbuddy" star with a 6-sigma confidence level, surpassing previous minimum detection thresholds.
While the scientists are confident in their discovery, they will require further observations next year to confirm the companion's gravitational bond with Betelgeuse. These upcoming observations will aim to characterize the companion's orbit, including key parameters like semi-major axis, eccentricity, and inclination. By understanding these characteristics, researchers can better predict how Betelgeuse's evolution and eventual supernova explosion might be influenced by its companion star.
Betelgeuse, a mature supergiant, is anticipated to explode in a supernova event in the future. The presence of a companion could potentially alter the timing and dynamics of this supernova. Astronomers are already anticipating a surge in research inspired by this discovery, as they explore the intricate interplay between Betelgeuse and its newfound companion star.
This revelation not only sheds light on the star's behavior but also opens up the possibility of identifying similar binary systems in other evolved stars across the galaxy.
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