Betelgeuse Haunted by a Cosmic Companion in Its Atmosphere

New radio observations reveal Betelgeuse's smaller stellar companion, Siwarha, plowing directly through the red supergiant's outer atmosphere.

Astronomers uncovering the secrets of the red supergiant Betelgeuse have made a striking discovery regarding its close environment. New radio observations demonstrate that the star's smaller stellar companion, named Siwarha, orbits so closely that it cuts directly through Betelgeuse's extended atmosphere.

Located roughly 650 light-years away in the constellation Orion, this stellar companion leaves a wake like a jet boat slicing through water. Led by researchers at the MIT Haystack Observatory, the findings offer unprecedented insight into stellar mechanics and binary interactions.