Betelgeuse's surface reveals a shape that surprises astronomers

Eight hundred times wider than our Sun, yet mysteriously lumpy and asymmetrical. That's Betelgeuse, the red supergiant in Orion, and new observations are revealing just how strange this dying star really is.

Using the powerful ALMA telescope array in Chile, astronomers have mapped two intensely hot regions on Betelgeuse's surface, with one persisting for at least seven years. The culprit appears to be churning plasma deep within the star, generating shock waves that ripple outward and warp its shape.

There's also a possible companion star in the picture, adding another layer of mystery to this already complex object.

Betelgeuse has burned through its hydrogen fuel, and scientists believe it's in its final stages of life. Its atmosphere registers around 3,680 degrees Fahrenheit.

And then there's the big question hanging over all of this: Betelgeuse could explode as a supernova at any moment, tomorrow, or thousands of years from now.