The recent study on Betelgeuse’s fluctuating brightness suggests it might have a companion star, humorously dubbed “Betelbuddy”.
Researchers believe this hidden star, potentially orbiting Betelgeuse, could influence its observed brightness by sweeping away light-blocking dust in its orbit. This hypothesis, developed through modeling and observational data, presents Betelbuddy as a possible explanation for the unexpected 2,170-day periodic dimming pattern of Betelgeuse, which doesn’t align with the typical internal pulsation of such stars
This discovery impacts expectations around Betelgeuse’s eventual supernova. If the 2,170-day dimming cycle (often called a “long secondary period”) results from a binary orbit rather than intrinsic stellar pulsation, Betelgeuse may not be as close to a supernova as previously thought. Instead, it may still be in a stable, helium-burning phase, extending its life expectancy to several hundred or even a few thousand more years
Ongoing efforts aim to directly image Betelbuddy around December 6, with the hopes of confirming its existence and clarifying Betelgeuse’s true evolutionary status. This potential binary system could reshape the understanding of massive red supergiants, binary interactions, and supernova timelines, offering new insights into stellar evolution.
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