One of the oldest stars in the night sky is about to explode
- July 3, 2023
- 0
A little more than 650 light-years from Earth, an old red star dies. A new pulse-based forecast for the province of Betelgeuse gives just a few decades before
A little more than 650 light-years from Earth, an old red star dies. A new pulse-based forecast for the province of Betelgeuse gives just a few decades before the famous super-giant collapses in a final burst of victory. Researchers from Tohoku University in Japan and the University of Geneva in Switzerland have discovered that by re-evaluating the brightness fluctuations of a nearby star, they may be observing the last stage of the star’s life.
Few stars deserve their own daytime soap opera like the red supergiant Betelgeuse. After suddenly darkening in 2019, astronomers around the world held their breath in anticipation of the death of one of the biggest and brightest stars in the night sky. Instead, they learned that the star temporarily dimmed its brightness by coughing up something dark and dusty.
Credits: NASA, ESA and E. Wheatley (STScI)
Betelgeuse’s usual glow peaked earlier this year, glowing one and a half times brighter than usual. Once again, speculation arose as to the fate of the object and whether the changes were the rattle of death or simply the palpitations of old age.
Betelgeuse, a fiery, heavy beast once known as an O-type star, burns fast since it formed just 10 million years ago, holding on to the belief that it dies young.
The size of Betelgeuse was a matter of debate throughout the 20th century. The latest measurements point to a more compact size and the possibility of tens of thousands more years before it exploded.
The outer layers of the star vibrate and create bright oscillations. There are two important vibrational periods – 2200 and 420 days. Scientists are considering the possibility of another, longer pulse. If this is confirmed, the star will have a much larger radius.
This means that the outer layers of the star will drift further and its lifespan may end sooner than expected. However, the calculations still need to be reviewed. There is hope that we can observe the Betelgeuse supernova with modern instruments. However, detailed studies on the size of the star and its closeness to the end of its life continue. The work is available at: arXiv.
Source: Port Altele
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