Astronomers using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile have captured what they describe as the clearest image yet of Betelgeuse B, a faint stellar companion orbiting the massive red supergiant star Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion, according to a team led by researcher Miguel Montargès.
The Century-Long Quest to Image Betelgeuse B
For roughly a hundred years, astronomers have hunted for evidence of a companion star around Betelgeuse, a massive red supergiant nearing the end of its life cycle. Researchers previously suggested that a companion could explain fluctuations in the star’s brightness observed in recent years. According to Miguel Montargès, lead author of the study, the team utilized the Very Large Telescope located in Chile’s Atacama Desert to directly image the system using the SPHERE instrument. “This is the conclusion of a century-long quest,” Montargès stated, adding that he jumped from his chair upon seeing the processed images.
Observations and Mass Estimates From the Very Large Telescope
Predictions indicated that the hypothetical companion would reach its furthest point from Betelgeuse in December 2024, prompting the research team to initiate observations and data processing. While initial theoretical models suggested the companion possessed a mass comparable to the Sun, new observations indicate it is actually two to three times as massive as our star, according to Montargès. Anthony Boccaletti, a co-author of the study, noted that SPHERE and advanced post-processing techniques originally designed for exoplanet discovery proved exceptionally effective at detecting a companion around a massive, evolved star.
Did you know? Betelgeuse forms the shoulder of the constellation Orion and is easily visible to the naked eye during winter months when the constellation is prominent in the night sky.
Potential Impact on a Future Supernova Event
With direct imaging confirming light from the star using the Very Large Telescope, researchers now aim to determine how the presence of Betelgeuse B might influence the red supergiant’s eventual evolution and potential explosion as a supernova. “The question is truly opened whether this companion is going to have an impact on the evolution of the red supergiant,” Montargès stated. To definitively confirm the companion’s orbit, astronomers plan to observe it again in one year as it moves to the opposite side of the star, though researchers indicate very little room for doubt remains following the recent detection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Betelgeuse B?
Betelgeuse B is a newly imaged faint stellar companion orbiting the red supergiant star Betelgeuse, with a mass estimated to be two to three times that of the Sun, according to lead author Miguel Montargès.
How was Betelgeuse B discovered?
Astronomers directly imaged the companion using the SPHERE instrument on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile’s Atacama Desert, following a potential detection with the Gemini North Telescope in Hawaiʻi in 2025.
Will Betelgeuse explode soon?
Betelgeuse is a massive red supergiant approaching the end of its life cycle and could potentially explode as a supernova, though researchers are still studying whether the newly confirmed companion will impact that evolution.
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