ONE of the most famous stars in the sky is dying – and astronomers think it could explode sooner than initially predicted.
Researchers from Tohoku University and the University of Geneva conducted a recent study on a star called Betelgeuse – the star that forms Orion’s right shoulder.
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They think Betelgeuse could have just a few decades before it reaches supernova and explodes.
The research has been published on arXiv.
A huge star exploding may sound scary but a Betelgeuse supernova wouldn’t be deadly for life on Earth.
WHAT IS BETELGEUSE?
Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star that is expected to turn into a supernova explosion.
It’s been a red supergiant star for about 40,000 years.
The star is located just over 650 light-years from Earth.
Experts initially predicted that a supernova wouldn’t happen for another 100,000 years.
In 2019, however, the star was spotted dimming and some astronomers thought it could be on the verge of a supernova.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN BETELGEUSE EXPLODES?
Luckily, a Betelgeuse supernova wouldn’t impact Earth.
It’s so far away that the explosion wouldn’t reach us.
There are some visible consequences, however.
The star dying would change the view of the night sky forever.
Betelgeuse is a key part of the Orion constellation and budding astronomers like to observe it.
It’s clearly recognizable due to being the second brightest star in the Orion constellation.
When Betelgeuse turns into a supernova, scientists think it will be the third brightest object in the sky after the Sun and the full Moon.
It might be so bright that it becomes visible in the daytime.
Three years after the supernova, Betelgeuse will probably fade to its current brightness and after six it won’t be visible at all.
No one knows for sure when this will happen.
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