Betelgeuse: The Next Supernova?
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Image from the Hubble Space Telescope, reproduced with permission from AURA/STScI.
What's in a Name: | Arabic for "shoulder of the giant". Also known as the Martial Star. |
Claim to Fame: | First star seen as a sphere instead of a point of light by the Hubble Space Telescope on March 3, 1995. 12th brightest star in the sky . Possibly will be the very next supernova. |
Type of Star: | Orange-Red Supergiant (M2 Iab Spectral Class). 3300K surface temp. |
How Far Away: | Over 300 light years away |
How Big: | 1300 times the sun's diameter. Would overfill the orbit of Jupiter if placed at the sun's position in the solar system |
How Bright: | 54,000 times the sun's visual luminosity (absolute visual magnitude, Mv = -7) |
Where to View: | 2nd brightest star In the constellation of Orion (Star Map) |
When to View: | Best viewed from the Northern hemisphere during December-March |