Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The behavior of the bright red supergiant, Betelgeuse, is described with results principally from the past 6 years. The review includes imaging, photometry, and spectroscopy to record the Great Dimming of 2019–2020. This event was followed by a slow ongoing recovery from the massive surface mass ejection after which the stellar characteristics changed. Theoretical simulations address the cause of this episodic mass ejection and the optical Dimming. Recent publications evaluating the perplexing 2100 day periodicity in the star’s brightness and radial velocity provide evidence that Betelgeuse may harbor a companion object. Current attempts at direct detection of this companion are discussed. Betelgeuse provides a well-studied and meaningful example for supergiant stars in our Galaxy and others.
Source: Galaxies
Authors: Andrea K. Dupree, Miguel Montargès
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,689
OpenAlex ID: W4409765941