Giant Spots May Have Caused Betelgeuse Star Dimming

Giant Spots May Have Caused Betelgeuse Star Dimming

Giant spots may be the cause causing massive star Betelgeuse’s dimming.

Giant spots may be the cause behind massive star Betelgeuse's dimming.

Https://scx2.b-cdn.net/gfx/news/2020/betelgeuseag.jpg MPIA Graphics (text -  The Max Planck Society reports that astronomers observed an alarming 40% drop in its light output "between October 2019 and April 2020." http://production.geobeats.com/admin/stock_footages/29801 (text - Theories since have included a supernova explosion being imminent and that "dust, recently ejected by Betelgeuse," was obscuring the star.

Http://production.geobeats.com/admin/stock_footages/29882 (text -  The society notes that "an international team of astronomers…[has] now demonstrated that temperature variations in…the luminous surface of the star…caused the brightness to drop." https://scx2.b-cdn.net/gfx/news/2020/1-betelgeuseag.jpg ESO/M.

Montargès et al.

(text -  (transition The most "plausible" explanation for that decrease is said to be "gigantic cool star spots, similar to sunspots, which…cover 50 to 70% of the star's surface." https://scx2.b-cdn.net/gfx/news/2020/betelgeuseag.jpg (th MPIA Graphics (text -