Betelgeuse

About

Betelgeuse is a prominent red supergiant star located in the constellation Orion. It is one of the largest and brightest stars visible to the naked eye, with a diameter approximately 700 times that of the Sun. Betelgeuse is classified as an M1-2 Ia-ab red supergiant, indicating it is nearing the end of its life cycle. Its surface temperature is relatively cool, around 3,250 to 3,690 K, which gives it a distinctive orange-red hue. Betelgeuse is culturally significant, appearing in the mythology of various cultures, including ancient Egypt and Greece. It is known for its variability in brightness, with cycles lasting about 400 days and longer periods of several years. Betelgeuse is expected to end its life in a supernova explosion, although this event is not predicted to occur in the near future. Its distance from Earth is estimated to be around 600 to 700 light-years, meaning any changes we observe today happened centuries ago.