The Night Orion's Shoulder Faded
In 2019, one of the brightest stars in the sky, the red shoulder of Orion, began to fade dramatically. People wondered if it was about to explode.
What was reported
Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star marking the shoulder of the constellation Orion, normally one of the ten brightest stars in the night sky. From late 2019, it faded to less than half its normal brightness, so that Orion looked noticeably different.
Because Betelgeuse is a huge, old star expected to explode as a supernova one day, the dimming led to excitement and speculation that the explosion might be close. Telescopes, including the Very Large Telescope in Chile, photographed its surface changing.
Explanations offered
Astronomers concluded that the star had thrown off a large cloud of gas, which cooled into dust and blocked some of its light, combined with a cool patch on its surface. It returned to normal in 2020. It will explode eventually, but probably not for many thousands of years.
- When
- Late 2019 to early 2020
- Where
- Paranal Observatory, Antofagasta, Chile
- Witnesses
- Astronomers and sky-watchers worldwide
- Status
- Mostly explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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