Betelgeuse

One of the most famous stars in the sky, Betelgeuse is a gigantic red star lying more than 400 light years from the Earth.

Its name comes from the Arabic ibt al jauzah, meaning 'armpit of the central one'. It is particular bright and prominent star (the tenth brightest in the sky) and shines with a red-orange light. With Bellatrix, it forms the shoulders of Orion the Hunter.

The Betelgeuse system includes at least five companion stars in orbit around the vast central star, which is truly immense. It is in fact one of the largest stars known, with a diameter up to one thousand times that of the Sun. This diameter is not fixed: the matter in Betelgeuse's outer shells swells and contracts by up to a quarter of its volume, over an irregular period of about five years. This factor is reflected in its shifting magnitude when viewed from Earth. Patterns of 'starspots' have also been detected on Betelgeuse's surface.

The mottled surface of Betelgeuse, a vast and ancient star approaching the end of its long life cycle.

Betelgeuse is a star in the last stages of its life. It has evolved to the point where its raw material for nuclear fusion has almost been exhausted, and it is approaching the point - a matter of just a few million years from now - where a supernova will occur.

Betelgeuse, the eastern shoulder of Orion and the second brightest star in that constellation. Orion's western shoulder, Bellatrix, is just out of view to the right of this map.

A view of the red giant Betelgeuse, against the backdrop of the Milky Way.

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