Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Betelgeuse

Mains level: NA

Betelgeuse

Central Idea: Recent research has shed light on the Betelgeuse’s current stage and its potential fate as it approaches the end of its lifecycle.

Betelgeuse: The Bright Red Star in Orion

Easily visible in the constellation Orion, Betelgeuse is a bright red star known as “Thiruvathirai” or “Ardra” in Indian astronomy.
It is a massive star that undergoes the carbon-burning stage, leading to its eventual collapse into a supernova.

How is it dying?

Massive stars like Betelgeuse exhaust their hydrogen fuel and transition to using helium to create carbon.
The energy released during helium fusion is lower than that of hydrogen, requiring the star to burn more helium to maintain stability.
Eventually, the helium is depleted, leading to the star’s progression through various burning stages, including carbon and silicon burning.

Researchers studying Betelgeuse have observed its pulsation, indicating its stage of evolution.
The observed pulsation aligns with theoretical estimates of the late carbon-burning stage, suggesting that Betelgeuse is in its death throes.
Astronomers detect the expansion and contraction of Betelgeuse by analyzing its pulsation and corresponding brightness variations.
Previous studies disagreed on which pulsation period is fundamental, with one team considering 417 days and another team proposing 2,190 days.
Researchers conclude that it is in the final stage of burning carbon, considering the 2,190-day pulse as fundamental.