Alpha Orionis Today

Betelgeuse is a , meaning its brightness fluctuates over time.

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 . 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. Betelgeuse is a , meaning its brightness fluctuates

(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 (α Orionis), famously known as Betelgeuse , is

Distinctive orange-red hue, visible even without equipment. Variability and Observation

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

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).