Bellatrix

Bellatrix is the star that marks Orion's western shoulder. Its eastern counterpart is Betelgeuse, just out of view to the left of this map.

In common with many stars, the blue giant Bellatrix has a smaller and fainter companion.

The Galactic position and direction of Bellatrix relative to Earth's Sun. Note that, at this extreme scale, the two stars are effectively in the same place.

An active star, several times more massive than our Sun, Bellatrix is approaching the end of the current stage of its lifecycle, and is expected to evolve into an orange giant within a matter of a few million years. Already, it has developed a growing shell of gaseous matter that heralds the beginning of its transformation.