Astronomers have successfully detected a small, dim binary companion orbiting the massive red giant Betelgeuse, ending a long-standing mystery surrounding this celestial body. The team of researchers used advanced imaging techniques to spot the companion, which they’ve named Siwarha, located approximately 548 light-years away in the constellation Orion.
Betelgeuse is one of the brightest stars in Earth’s sky and has been observed exhibiting unusual behavior, including a great dimming event that can drop its luminosity by 35 percent. The star’s light also fluctuates with two dominant periods of brightness, causing internal pulsations within the star itself. The team predicted the existence of a binary companion based on Betelgeuse’s behavior and have now confirmed it.
The newly detected Siwarha is an F-type star that has not yet reached the main sequence, and its life cycle is closely tied to that of Betelgeuse. While Betelgeuse’s lifespan is nearing its end, with predictions suggesting a supernova explosion within 100,000 years, Siwarha’s fate remains uncertain.
The observation of Siwarha marks a significant achievement in astronomy, showcasing the capabilities of advanced imaging techniques and opening new avenues for research into binary star systems.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/its-official-betelgeuse-has-a-binary-twin-and-its-already-doomed