A couple months back, astronomers officially confirmed the existence of “Betelbuddy,” Betelgeuse’s long-suspected companion star. Since then, researchers have been toiling away at characterizing Betelbuddy—finding that with each observation, the star drifts further away from initial expectations. A recent study published in The Astrophysical Journal presents a thorough analysis of Betelbuddy using data gathered by […]
Astronomers Spot Companion Star in Orbit Around Iconic Star Betelgeuse, Confirming Suspicions
In 2024, astronomers surmised that Betelgeuse might have a stellar “buddy.” If this hypothetical companion existed, it would help answer some questions about the red supergiant’s strange glowing patterns. As it turns out, these suspicions were correct. After numerous false signals and empty search results, astronomers with NASA’s Ames Research Center have confirmed that Betelgeuse does, […]