Despite being only about 8 to 10 million years old —much younger than our 4.6-billion-year-old Sun—its massive size caused it to evolve rapidly.
Distinctive orange-red hue, visible even without equipment. Variability and Observation
Recent studies suggest the existence of a smaller, Sun-like companion star (Betelgeuse B) that may influence its long-term brightness cycles. Life Cycle and Future alpha orionis
Usually the 10th brightest star in the night sky, its magnitude typically ranges from +0.0 to +1.3 .
In late 2019 and early 2020, it experienced a historic drop in brightness, eventually attributed to a massive surface mass ejection that cooled into an obscuring dust cloud. Despite being only about 8 to 10 million
A red supergiant nearing the end of its life cycle.
(α Orionis), famously known as Betelgeuse , is a massive red supergiant marking the western shoulder of the constellation Orion . It is one of the largest and most luminous stars visible to the naked eye. Physical Characteristics Life Cycle and Future Usually the 10th brightest
It is roughly 100,000 times brighter than the Sun but significantly cooler, with a surface temperature of approximately 3,600 Kelvin (6,020°F).