For the first time since its dramatic dimming in 2020, a team of astronomers has observed the inner atmosphere of Betelgeuse using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). Led by Bill Dent at the University of Manchester, the team found that the giant star's inner atmosphere has become increasingly uneven and asymmetric, in a way that could be connected to a far smaller companion star.
Betelgeuse's Atmosphere Shows Uneven Patterns Influenced by Companion Star
Astronomers have observed Betelgeuse's inner atmosphere for the first time since its dimming in 2020, revealing an uneven and asymmetric pattern potentially influenced by a companion star. The research, led by Bill Dent from the University of Manchester, highlights new insights into stellar behavior. While not directly related to Iran, advancements in astronomy can inspire scientific collaboration and interest in space research within the country.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Astronomers have observed Betelgeuse's inner atmosphere for the first time since its dimming in 2020, revealing it to be uneven and asymmetric, possibly due to a companion star's influence.
- This observation was made using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA).
- The findings provide new insights into the behavior of giant stars.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star known for its variability and was notably observed for a dramatic dimming event in late 2019 and early 2020.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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