Orionis | Alpha

A red supergiant nearing the end of its life cycle.

In late 2019 and early 2020, it experienced a historic drop in brightness, eventually attributed to a massive surface mass ejection that cooled into an obscuring dust cloud.

Recent studies suggest the existence of a smaller, Sun-like companion star (Betelgeuse B) that may influence its long-term brightness cycles. Life Cycle and Future alpha orionis

Despite being only about 8 to 10 million years old —much younger than our 4.6-billion-year-old Sun—its massive size caused it to evolve rapidly.

If placed at the center of our solar system, it would engulf the orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, likely extending past Jupiter's orbit . A red supergiant nearing the end of its life cycle

(α Orionis), famously known as Betelgeuse , is a massive red supergiant marking the western shoulder of the constellation Orion . It is one of the largest and most luminous stars visible to the naked eye. Physical Characteristics

It is roughly 100,000 times brighter than the Sun but significantly cooler, with a surface temperature of approximately 3,600 Kelvin (6,020°F). Life Cycle and Future Despite being only about

Betelgeuse is a , meaning its brightness fluctuates over time.