Alpha Orionis Apr 2026

Despite being only about 8 to 10 million years old —much younger than our 4.6-billion-year-old Sun—its massive size caused it to evolve rapidly.

Betelgeuse is a , meaning its brightness fluctuates over time.

A red supergiant nearing the end of its life cycle. alpha orionis

(α Orionis), famously known as Betelgeuse , is a massive red supergiant marking the western shoulder of the constellation Orion . It is one of the largest and most luminous stars visible to the naked eye. Physical Characteristics

Usually the 10th brightest star in the night sky, its magnitude typically ranges from +0.0 to +1.3 . Despite being only about 8 to 10 million

Recent studies suggest the existence of a smaller, Sun-like companion star (Betelgeuse B) that may influence its long-term brightness cycles. Life Cycle and Future

It is roughly 100,000 times brighter than the Sun but significantly cooler, with a surface temperature of approximately 3,600 Kelvin (6,020°F). (α Orionis), famously known as Betelgeuse , is

If placed at the center of our solar system, it would engulf the orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, likely extending past Jupiter's orbit .