Astronomers Make Surprising Discovery About Dying Star Betelgeuse
Recent research has shed new light on the behavior of the dying star Betelgeuse, challenging previous assumptions about its rotation speed. Scientists had long believed that Betelgeuse was rotating at a rapid pace of 5 kilometers per second, based on observations from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). However, a study led by astrophysicist Jing-Ze Ma has found that this may not be the case.
Ma and his team suggest that Betelgeuse’s boiling surface could be creating an optical illusion of fast rotation. The convective activity on the star’s surface is thought to mimic the effects of rotation when observed from ALMA. To better understand the true rotation speed of Betelgeuse, high-resolution observations are currently being analyzed.
The implications of this research could be significant for our understanding of massive dying stars like Betelgeuse. By unraveling the mysteries of Betelgeuse’s behavior, scientists hope to gain insights into the formation of molecules in the outflows of these celestial objects.
Further studies are needed to improve computer simulations and enhance our understanding of these complex phenomena. The findings from this research could pave the way for a better understanding of the life cycles of stars and the processes that govern their evolution. Stay tuned for more updates as scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of Betelgeuse and other dying stars in our universe.
