Betelgeuse’s Enigmatic Dimming: A Glimpse into the Precursor of a Star Goes Supernova Event
Betelgeuse’s enigmatic dimming event in 2019, initially thought to signal an impending star goes supernova event, has been clarified by high-resolution images captured using the MATISSE instrument. (Photo: nationalgeographic)
Betelgeuse’s Dimming Unraveled: Insights into the Mystery of a Star Goes Supernova Event
According to source, the puzzling dimming incident involving the supergiant star Betelgeuse in 2019, initially seen as a precursor to its impending star goes supernova event, has received a novel explanation. Utilizing the MATISSE instrument on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope Interferometer, a team from France’s Université Côte d’Azur captured high-resolution images that disclosed a remarkable occurrence.
While Betelgeuse underwent an overall dimming, its photosphere displayed an increase in luminosity during this star goes supernova event, lending support to the hypothesis that the dimming was caused by a dust burst, notably silicon monoxide, emerging from the star’s surface, possibly triggered by a sudden cooling process.
The observed transformations in Betelgeuse’s photosphere and the presence of silicon monoxide furnish compelling evidence for the theory proposing the formation of a cold spot on the star’s surface, culminating in the ejection of a dust cloud, which adds to our understanding of this star goes supernova event.
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Unraveling the Mysteries of Star Goes Supernova Events: Betelgeuse Sheds Light on Cosmic Transformations
This explanation aligns with the findings of a 2021 study, which postulated that Betelgeuse expelled a bubble of gas when confronted with a significant temperature drop, leading to the condensation of a portion of the gas into solid dust particles. The resultant formation of dust enveloped the star, contributing to the observed dimming event, shedding light on this star goes supernova event.
This revelation underscores the fascinating capacity of dust, akin to the material that fuels the birth of new star systems, to emerge in the immediate proximity of stars, further enhancing our understanding of such star goes supernova events. Nonetheless, the conduct of supergiant stars, such as Betelgeuse, particularly in the latter phases of their stellar lifecycles, continues to pique the curiosity of astronomers.
The enigma surrounding the possible manifestation of a supergiant’s supernova event remains a captivating quest for the scientific community, as the anticipation for Betelgeuse’s forthcoming star goes supernova event builds. Notably, such an astronomical phenomenon has not been witnessed within our galaxy since the 17th century. The comprehensive study detailing the MATISSE images of Betelgeuse’s dimming event was officially published in the “Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters” in September 2023.
