Introducing “Betelbuddy”
A crew of researchers, led by Jared Goldberg from the Flatiron Institute’s Centre for Computational Astrophysics, has put ahead an attention-grabbing thought. They imagine that an unseen companion star, playfully named “Betelbuddy,” might be influencing Betelgeuse’s gentle. By utilizing laptop simulations to review the star’s exercise, the researchers eradicated different attainable causes for its fluctuating brightness and landed on the concept of a companion.
Why Is Betelgeuse So Bright?
Betelgeuse is a formidable sight, shining about 100,000 occasions brighter than our Sun and having a quantity over 400 million occasions larger. The proposed companion might be appearing like a snowplough, pushing away mud that blocks gentle. This interplay may result in moments when Betelgeuse seems even brighter from our perspective on Earth.
The Pulsation Mystery
Betelgeuse reveals two completely different brightness patterns. One lasts simply over a yr, whereas the opposite stretches to about six years. The shorter interval is probably going an intrinsic high quality of the star, reflecting its pure behaviour. In distinction, the longer interval may recommend that one thing exterior, like a companion star, is at play. If the lengthy cycle is certainly a basic trait of Betelgeuse, it may sign {that a} supernova is approaching before anticipated.
Looking Ahead
László Molnár, a co-author from the Konkoly Observatory in Hungary, expressed pleasure about the potential for discovering a star hidden behind Betelgeuse’s brightness. Their research has been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal and is presently obtainable for public viewing on arXiv.
