Deep Sky
Betelgeuse
(Alpha Orionis)
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Constellation: Orion
Betelgeuse
(Bet' l 'jooz)
The first star I learned as boy. It is the 8th brightest star in the night sky, and second to Rigel in the constellation.
Betelgeuse, is classified as a red supergiant, type M21ab, meaning it is one of the largest and most luminous of the observable stars, only aboutr 640 light-years away from us. Astronomers are not sure of Betelgeuse’s mass though. Anywhere from 5 to 30 times of our sun, its absolute magnitude is about -6.02.
Living fast and dying young, compared to our sun, Betelgeuse is a youngster only about 10 million years old. It had a hard youth, having been ejected from its birthplace in near the Orion’s belt, Betelgeuse is running away at supersonic speed, some 30 km a second. This is fast enough to create a bow shock some 4 light-years wide.
Astronomers believe that Betelgeuse will go supernova within the next million years.
Note:
According to Bob Berman, Astronomy Magazine, Oct 17 issue, pg 10.
The spelling Bet'l'jooz, is Sumerian. They saw Betelgeuse
as "the arm-pit of the sheep", as the constellation struck them as a
sheep & not a hunter. Gotta love those Sumerians!
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3 Images stacked
5 sec ea Date: 04-29-13 Telescope: Celestron 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain |
10 Images 5 sec ea Date:: 03-27-16 Telescope: Celestron 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain |