Betelgeuse star reveals chaotic surface in detailed ALMA observations

Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have captured highly detailed images of the red supergiant star Betelgeuse, revealing a chaotic and irregular surface. Located approximately 600 light-years away in the Orion constellation, the star is roughly 800 times the size of the Sun and is expected to eventually end its life in a supernova.

The new observations, based on data from 2023, show a surface characterized by boiling plasma, shockwaves, and intense heat pockets. One specific hotspot located toward the northeast has remained stable for over seven years, a duration that significantly exceeds current scientific models for stellar convection.

This unexpected stability has led researchers to consider whether an undetected companion star, such as Siwarha, might be influencing the star's atmospheric dynamics and mass loss. The findings may require astronomers to rethink existing theories regarding how massive stars behave as they approach the end of their life cycles.