NASA Telescope Uncovers the Cause of Betelgeuse's Mysterious Dimming
Phoenix666 writes:
CNet:
By looking at Betelgeuse at UV wavelengths, researchers were able to get a better look at the star's surface and atmosphere. They discovered a mass of bright, hot material moving outward from the southern hemisphere of the star at around 200,000 miles per hour and eventually being ejected into space.
[...] Dupree and her team believe this material may have begun to cool down as it moved through space, forming a dense dust cloud that partially obscured Betelgeuse. It just so happens that Earth was in the perfect position to "see" the dust cloud front on, as if Betelgeuse shot the dust cloud directly at us. If it happened on the opposite side of Betelgeuse, we'd likely never even know.
Explosive outbursts are expected from star's[sic] at the end of their life and when they die or "go supernova," they release a shockwave that spews elements into space. The activity is critical to fill space with heavy elements like carbon, which then can become new stars elsewhere in the universe, so these stars are critical to the cosmic Circle of Life.
Betelgeuse is dying, and ejecting bright material that then cools.
Recently:
(2020-03-09) Dimming Betelgeuse Likely Isn't Cold, Just Dusty, New Study Shows
(2020-02-18) New Image Shows Betelgeuse Isn't Dimming Evenly
(2019-12-30) Waiting for Betelgeuse: What's Up With the Tempestuous Star?
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