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NASA Telescope Uncovers the Cause of Betelgeuse's Mysterious Dimming

posted by martyb on Saturday August 15 2020, @03:41AM   Printer-friendly
from the "beetle-juice" dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

CNet:

By looking at Betelgeuse at UV wavelengths, researchers were able to get a better look at the star's surface and atmosphere. They discovered a mass of bright, hot material moving outward from the southern hemisphere of the star at around 200,000 miles per hour and eventually being ejected into space.

[...] Dupree and her team believe this material may have begun to cool down as it moved through space, forming a dense dust cloud that partially obscured Betelgeuse. It just so happens that Earth was in the perfect position to "see" the dust cloud front on, as if Betelgeuse shot the dust cloud directly at us. If it happened on the opposite side of Betelgeuse, we'd likely never even know.

Explosive outbursts are expected from star's[sic] at the end of their life and when they die or "go supernova," they release a shockwave that spews elements into space. The activity is critical to fill space with heavy elements like carbon, which then can become new stars elsewhere in the universe, so these stars are critical to the cosmic Circle of Life.

Betelgeuse is dying, and ejecting bright material that then cools.

Recently:
(2020-03-09) Dimming Betelgeuse Likely Isn't Cold, Just Dusty, New Study Shows
(2020-02-18) New Image Shows Betelgeuse Isn't Dimming Evenly
(2019-12-30) Waiting for Betelgeuse: What's Up With the Tempestuous Star?

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 15 2020, @05:50AM (3 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 15 2020, @05:50AM (#1036963)

    Star-lord?
    Star-Massive Coronal Ejection?
    Star-fart.

    We all know what we will vote for. We will name it, "The Massive Trump Beteguese Star Fart of 2019". Trump needs his name on something that is not a subpoena.

    Starting Score:    0  points
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       Troll=1, Total=1
    Extra 'Troll' Modifier   0  
    Total Score:   -1  

  • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 15 2020, @07:24AM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 15 2020, @07:24AM (#1036995)

    Down-modded, so, you are saying Trump does need his name on a subpoena? For rape? Or fraud? Or sexual assault? Or Tax fraud? Regular Fraud? Hush money to sex partners? Not fraud, just, um, prostitution ex facto? Or now, the assault on the USPS, one of two Constitutionally mandated entities, which Trump is attempting to destroy? Oh, the "Lock him up" chant we will have, after the second Impeachment Hearing. Criminal Trump! Crooked Trump! Trump the criminal.

    • (Score: 2) by Bot on Saturday August 15 2020, @10:25AM

      by Bot (3902) on Saturday August 15 2020, @10:25AM (#1037025) Journal

      > replying about the mod you have received

      spotted the aristarchus

      --
      Account abandoned.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 15 2020, @07:35PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 15 2020, @07:35PM (#1037210)

      According to the Bible book of Revelation, there will be Seven Trumps.

      This is only the first.

      Enjoy.