Betelgeuse
Product information
Description
With its fiery orange-red glow and dominant position in Orion’s shoulder, Betelgeuse is one of the largest and most luminous stars visible to the naked eye. It casts a haunting, warm presence in winter skies.
Additional Information
- Constellation
- Orion
- Spectral Type
- M1-M2 Ia-Iab
- Apparent Magnitude
- 0.5
- Distance (Light Years)
- 642.5
- Right Ascension
- 05h 55m 10.3053s
- Declination
- +07° 24′ 25.4″
- Solar Masses
- 11.6
- Radius (Solar)
- 887
- Temperature (Kelvin)
- 3600
- Age (Million Years)
- 8
Discovery
- Ancient Civilizations
- Greeks, Chinese, Arabs
- Historical Significance
- Betelgeuse has captivated observers for millennia. Its distinct reddish hue and brightness variations made it a key reference in ancient star charts and astronomical records.
Cultural Significance
- Mythology
- In Greek mythology, Betelgeuse represents the shoulder of Orion, the hunter. Its prominence in the sky gave it central importance in star lore across many cultures.
- Navigation
- Due to its brilliance and position in Orion, Betelgeuse was a critical point of reference in celestial navigation, especially in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Modern Reference
- Betelgeuse has entered pop culture, famously inspiring the name of the film 'Beetlejuice'. In astronomy, it continues to fascinate scientists due to its impending fate as a potential supernova.
Notable Features
- Variable Brightness
- Betelgeuse is a semiregular variable star, known for dramatic fluctuations in brightness—most recently during the 'Great Dimming' event of 2019–2020.
- Supernova Potential
- As a red supergiant in its final stages, Betelgeuse is expected to go supernova within the next 100,000 years, producing a spectacle visible even in daylight from Earth.
User Dedications
- Dedications
- This star has not been claimed yet. Be the first to dedicate it to someone special!