News Astronomy

New images reveal Betelgeuse’s buddy star

The sighting appears to confirm a century of hints and claims

The outline of the constellation Orion is seen on a starry sky. An inset pointing to one spot on Orion has an image of the red supergiant Betelgeuse. An inset of that image shows a bright spot near the big star.

The red supergiant star Betelgeuse (middle), which perches on a shoulder of the constellation Orion (right), is expected to swallow its companion star (small bright dot, left) in about 10,000 years.

ESO, M. Montargès et al/Astronomy & Astrophysics. Background: N. Rissinger/skysurvey.org

By Lisa Grossman

Betelgeuse’s companion star is finally ready for its close-up. Astronomers have taken a clear portrait of an ordinary star orbiting the famed supergiant.