Good news for stargazers! In a recent discovery, Scientists predicted a unique occurrence regarding Betelgeuse, a star located roughly 650 light years away from Earth. By observing it, experts have determined that its brightness is consistently increasing, reaching a level 142% higher than its normal brightness by the end of May, Newsweek had reported.
This peculiar occurrence has led scientists to posit that the red supergiant may be approaching the end of its life cycle known as “a supernova”, a massive explosion that occurs when a star dies.
The expected cosmic event would create a magnificent spectacle in the sky that could be seen with the naked-eye. The explosion would appear as a large light shining with an intensity equivalent to that of a full moon at its zenith.
Betelgeuse is considerably larger than our sun, with a 15-20 times greater mass, and is located in the Orion constellation. Although the original estimate for the timeframe of Betelgeuse’s supernova was hundreds of thousands of years, the recent increase in brightness has caused scientists to reconsider their predictions.
Our generation may not have the opportunity to witness the ultimate fate of Betelgeuse. Nevertheless, scientists remain hopeful and eagerly anticipate a possible celestial spectacle that could reveal the end of Betelgeuse.