Short Wave A Star In Orion Is Dimming. Is It About To Explode?
Jan 6, 2020
Join astronomer Emily Levesque from the University of Washington as she dives into the dimming of Betelgeuse, a massive red supergiant star. She unpacks the mystery behind its recent decline in brightness, clarifying common misconceptions. Emily discusses potential causes like mass loss and convective cells, and speculates about the spectacle of a supernova that could light up our sky. This cosmic event, linked to observations from 650 years ago, offers insights into stellar life cycles and raises exciting questions about the universe.
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Betelgeuse Dimming
- Betelgeuse is dimming, leading to speculation about a supernova.
- Dimming is not the most likely indicator of an impending supernova for Betelgeuse.
Reasons for Dimming
- Betelgeuse's dimming might be due to several factors, like convective cells, mass shedding, and pulsation.
- These behaviors aren't unusual individually, but their combined effect makes the star appear dimmer.
Betelgeuse's Life Stage
- Betelgeuse is 650 light-years away, so we're seeing its past.
- It's nearing its end-of-life stage, but a supernova could still be 100,000 years away.