Betelgeuse is oddly 'brightening' up again- will it finally explode?
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Betelgeuse, one of the most prominent stars in the night sky, has been displaying intriguing behavior— it is oddly increasing in brightness, sparking speculation about an impending supernova explosion.
Some 650 light-years from Earth, this well-known, red-tinged star, located in the Orion constellation, surprised astronomers when it experienced the unusual 'Great dimming event' in late 2019 and 2020, becoming fainter than it had been in over a century.
However, the star has once again become remarkably bright since early April, currently shining at over 140 percent of its "usual" brightness, according to the Twitter account Betelgeuse Status, which tracks its behavior.
Now at 142% of my usual brightness! #Betelgeuse pic.twitter.com/Un2h6hJFwU
— Betelgeuse Status (@betelbot) May 19, 2023
What happens to Earth if Betelgeuse explodes?
Both the "great dimming" and the subsequent increase in brightness have fueled discussions about the star's potential explosive demise. But is there any concrete evidence supporting this hypothesis? And significantly, how would such an explosion impact Earth?
According to space.com, if Betelgeuse were to undergo a supernova explosion, it would be the closest event of its kind in over four centuries. Its brightness would be so intense that it could be visible during daylight hours.
Nevertheless, some astronomers are taking a more cautious stance regarding the possibility of a supernova.
Albert Zijlstra, a Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Manchester, highlighted in an article that Betelgeuse is classified as a "variable star." Unlike most stars that exhibit consistent brightness, variable stars, such as the renowned Mira, go through periodic fluctuations in luminosity due to their pulsating nature.
Zijlstra argued that while the cause behind Betelgeuse's sudden increase in brightness remains uncertain, an imminent supernova event seems unlikely. He noted that supernova explosions are triggered in the stars' core, whereas brightness variations are surface-related phenomena.
Moreover, the extreme brightening of Betelgeuse might be attributed to the same dust cloud that caused its previous dimming. This cloud could now be reflecting light from the star, making it appear brighter.
Nevertheless, uncertainty remains, and astronomers are eagerly observing the situation.
Betelgeuse, with its mass 15 to 20 times greater than that of the Sun, is expected to culminate its existence in a powerful supernova explosion. Its red color indicates that it is a 'red supergiant' nearing the end of its life. However, this ultimate fate may still be millions of years away. This makes sense considering the star's Twitter account tweeted last week: "Recent reports of my imminent demise are indeed a bit premature."
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