Betelgeuse is shrinking

[astroron]

Betelgeuse has been observed to shrink over a very short period of only fifteen years:eyepop:
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/06/10/2594181.htm

[bojan]

Hmmmm
I the article they say the luminosity did not change a lot..
That means the temperature must have gone up (to compensate for smaller radiation surface), which means there must have been a significant change in spectrum. And that would have been noticed for sure.
And, Betelgeuse is known to be a variable, so..
Also, the photosphere of stars like that is not very well defined, so it is very hard to say where the star ends and space begins..

Hmmm .... :shrug:

[meliux]

also covered on The Register.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/06/10/betelgeuse_shrinkage/

seems some people think we might have a supernova visible during the daytime within our lifetimes possibly...

[leinad]

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17282-betelgeuse-the-incredible-shrinking-star.html

Wow, this International Year of Astronomy sure has had some surprises!

[Robh]

If it's nearing the end of it's carbon fusion period and headed towards the heavier elements then it might supernova within 5 years and finish up as a Black Hole.
It's going to muck up Orion's symmetry! :sadeyes:

Just speculating, Rob

[bojan]

A bit more on this.. to put it in perspective.

http://blogs.discovery.com/space_disco/2009/06/warning-betelgeuse-is-shrinking-supernova-or-supernothing.html

[Liz]

Very interesting .... a supernona would top of IYA for sure :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[spacezebra]

Hi Ron

Many thanks for the post, a very interesting read.

Cheers Petra d.

[HolyWars]

WOW...... thats amazing! 15% in 15 years!