SMRTR Science & EngineeringJan 6, 2026Scientific American

Astronomers May Have Unlocked the Reason for Betelgeuse’s Bizarre Dimming

SMRTR summary

Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope discovered that Betelgeuse's mysterious brightness changes are likely caused by an unseen companion star creating ripples in its atmosphere every six years. This finding explains the red supergiant's dramatic dimming in 2020 and provides crucial insights into how massive stars evolve before exploding as supernovae.

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