Red Giant Star Betelgeuse is Smaller and Closer than Thought

A new study finds Betelgeuse is smaller and closer to us than astronomers believed - how close is it to exploding as a supernova?

The red giant star Betelgeuse is smaller and closer than astronomers believed — how close is it to exploding?

Betelgeuse is acting strangely, but is not likely to explode soon, a new study reveals. Image credit: ALMA / ESO / NAOJ / NRAO / E. O’Gorman / P. Kervella

By James Maynard

Betelgeuse is one of the best-known stars in the night sky, as well as the easiest to find. New examinations of this behemoth star suggest it is both smaller — and closer — than astronomers believed.

This red giant star will, one day, explode as a supernova. However, it is challenging to determine when the eruption will take place. In addition to new measurements of the star’s size and distance, this new study from Australian National University (ANU) suggests the star is not likely to erupt for 100,000 years.

Read more: https://thecosmiccompanion.net/red-giant-star-betelgeuse-is-smaller-and-closer-than-thought

---

For more details on space and astronomy news, please visit: thecosmiccompanion.net or thecosmiccompanion.com.

Thanks for watching, listening, and sharing!

- James