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Astronomy: Betelgeuse, a red giant going supernova
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Betelgeuse is a well know star for its enormous size. It can be found in the constellation Orion at a distance of 600 light years. While Betelgeuse is cooler than the Sun, it is much more massive and over 1000 times larger. If placed at the center of our Solar System, it would extend past the orbit of Jupiter. As a massive red supergiant, it is nearing the end of its life and will soon become a supernova. In this historic image, a bright hotspot is revealed on the star's surface. Related subjects>> Different types of stars>> The Orion nebula |
 Picture of Betelgeuse (also called Alpha Orionis) by the Hubble Space Telescope < JPG image 1381 x 1013 pixels > |
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