Betelgeuse, the seventh brightest star in the sky (discounting the Sun), is the brightest of the variable stars.
- Sometimes Betelgeuse becomes nearly as bright as Rigel (the blue fourth brightest star in the constellation), while at other times it is notably fainter. The variation is caused by pulsations.
- The bright red star Betelgeuse, called ‘Thiruvathirai’ or ‘Ardra‘ in Indian astronomy.
- The bright, red star Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion has shown some unexpected behaviour.
- In late 2019 and 2020 it became fainter than we had ever seen it – at least in records going back more than a century. Briefly it became fainter (just about) than Bellatrix, the third brightest star of Orion. This event became known as the “great dimming”.
- But Betelgeuse has since become bright again. For a few days this year, it was the brightest star in Orion – brighter than we have ever seen it. Both events led to speculation about whether its demise in the form of an explosion is imminent.
