Celestial Event: Asteroid to Cause Temporary Disappearance of Betelgeuse

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A spectacular celestial event is on the horizon as a large asteroid is set to eclipse Betelgeuse, one of the most luminous stars in the night sky. This unique occurrence, happening between late Monday and early Tuesday, will be observable by millions along a specific trajectory spanning from Tajikistan and Armenia in Central Asia, moving through Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, reaching Miami, the Florida Keys, and parts of Mexico.

Betelgeuse, a massive red supergiant star located in the Orion constellation, will be temporarily obscured by the asteroid named Leona. Leona, a sizeable, elongated asteroid situated in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, moves at a slow rotation.

The duration of this eclipse is anticipated to be no more than 15 seconds. Astronomical teams, including a group from Spain, recently analyzed a similar eclipse involving Leona and a dimmer star in September. Their findings suggest that Leona measures approximately 34 miles in width and 50 miles in length (or 55 by 80 kilometers).

Despite these measurements, there remains uncertainty regarding the exact dimensions of both Betelgeuse and its extensive atmosphere. This raises questions about whether the eclipse will be total, completely covering the star, or partial, potentially creating a “ring of fire” effect with a small, glowing outline surrounding Betelgeuse. The total duration of the star’s disappearance, if it occurs, is also uncertain, possibly lasting up to 10 seconds.

The event’s unpredictability adds to its fascination, according to Gianluca Masa, an astronomer and founder of the Virtual Telescope Project. The project will offer a live webcast from Italy to capture this rare phenomenon.

Betelgeuse, estimated to be 700 light-years from Earth, is visible to the naked eye. Utilizing binoculars or small telescopes can enhance the viewing experience. A light-year equals approximately 5.8 trillion miles.

Betelgeuse’s size and luminosity far surpass that of our Sun. It is thousands of times brighter and roughly 700 times larger. If positioned in our solar system, it would extend beyond Jupiter. Despite its massive size, Betelgeuse is relatively young at 10 million years, in contrast to our 4.6 billion-year-old Sun. Scientists predict that due to its mass and rapid consumption of material, Betelgeuse will not have a long lifespan.

The star underwent a notable dimming in 2019 due to a substantial amount of surface material being expelled into space, forming a dust cloud that temporarily blocked its light. However, it regained its usual brightness within six months. Astronomers anticipate that Betelgeuse will eventually end its lifecycle in a supernova explosion, potentially within the next 100,000 years.

This celestial event’s coverage is provided by the Big Big News Health and Science Department, supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The Associated Press maintains full editorial control over all content.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Betelgeuse Eclipse

More about Betelgeuse Eclipse

• Rare Eclipse of Betelgeuse by Asteroid Leona
• Betelgeuse Eclipse Viewing Locations
• Asteroid Leona and Betelgeuse Details
• Virtual Telescope Project Webcast
• Betelgeuse Characteristics and Significance