ScienceQuiet 28d · day 32
ALMA detects long-lived hotspots persisting on Betelgeuse's surface
High-resolution observations reveal bright, stable features on the red supergiant that have remained in place for at least seven years.
What to know
- ALMA's 2023 high-resolution observations reveal bright hotspots up to 800 K hotter than surrounding gas on Betelgeuse's irregular surface.
- A prominent northeastern hotspot has persisted in the same location for at least seven years—far exceeding predictions from current stellar convection models.
- The features are likely generated by enormous convective motions inside Betelgeuse that produce shocks in the outer atmosphere.
- Further ALMA observations could clarify how these hotspots relate to the star's mass loss and eventual supernova explosion.
“When they compared the 2023 observations with similar ALMA data obtained in 2015, the prominent northeastern hotspot appeared in almost the same location and with a similar intensity.”
ALMA Observatory, Science reporting · ALMA Observatory
Bill Dent Lead astronomer, ESOALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) International astronomy facilityEuropean Southern Observatory (ESO) ALMA partner organization
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