News Astronomy

Betelgeuse’s companion star revealed in new images

Astronomers glimpse a long-sought companion to the red supergiant star

Blurry astronomical image showing the star Betelgeuse as a bright, orange circular blob against a dark background with a smaller, faint blue spot to the lower left.

New images reveal a long-sought tiny companion (blue) to the bright supergiant star Betelgeuse (orange).

International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA; Image Processing: M. Zamani/NSF NOIRLab

By Mara Johnson-Groh

Hidden cozied up to Betelgeuse, a bright red star in the constellation Orion, astronomers may have finally found the giant star’s long-sought companion. This close-orbiting partner, first postulated over a century ago, matches some predictions and adds another piece to the puzzle of the mysterious supergiant star.