betelgeuse planets

Introduction

Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star in the constellation Orion, has been the subject of extensive research due to its unique characteristics and recent unusual behavior. This synthesis aims to explore the current understanding of Betelgeuse, particularly in relation to the possibility of it hosting planets or being involved in planetary phenomena.

Key Insights

Surface and Brightness Variations:
- Betelgeuse exhibits complex asymmetries and bright spots on its surface, which are likely due to convective surface hotspots . These spots change in flux and position over time, indicating dynamic surface activity .
- The star has undergone significant dimming events, which are attributed to global changes in the photosphere rather than localized surface activity or dust absorption .
Circumstellar Environment:
- Betelgeuse is surrounded by a complex and extended circumstellar envelope, rich in dust and molecules, which contributes to the enrichment of the interstellar medium. This envelope shows a high degree of clumpiness and inhomogeneity.
- The star's circumstellar environment includes a newly formed dust halo and a bow shock structure formed by the interaction of its stellar wind with the interstellar medium .
Magnetic Field and Convection:
- Betelgeuse has a weak but detectable magnetic field, which may be associated with giant convection cells on its surface, potentially contributing to mass loss and heating of the outer atmosphere.
Theoretical Models and Simulations:
- 3D hydrodynamic simulations of Betelgeuse's bow shock reveal that its morphology is influenced by instabilities in the stellar wind and interstellar medium interaction. These simulations suggest that Betelgeuse has only recently entered the red supergiant phase.
- Analytical models propose that Betelgeuse could be the result of a past merger in a binary system, which might explain its fast rotation and large space velocity.
Speculative Theories:
- There is a speculative theory suggesting that Betelgeuse might be a dwarf star and could potentially be the missing Planet 9, although this is not widely supported by the scientific community.

Conclusion

The research on Betelgeuse highlights its dynamic and complex nature, with significant surface activity, an extensive circumstellar environment, and a detectable magnetic field. While there is no direct evidence of planets orbiting Betelgeuse, the star's unique characteristics and recent dimming events continue to intrigue scientists. The speculative theory linking Betelgeuse to Planet 9 remains unsubstantiated and is not a mainstream scientific view. Overall, Betelgeuse remains a fascinating object of study in the field of stellar astrophysics.

Betelgeuse planets

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

The changing face of Betelgeuse

Betelgeuse's dimming is likely due to global expansion and cooling of the photosphere, rather than increased absorption by a newly formed dust halo.

Is Betelgeuse the Outcome of a Past Merger?

Betelgeuse may be the result of a merger in a low-mass binary system, potentially explaining its fast rotation and large space velocity.

3D simulations of Betelgeuse’s bow shock

Betelgeuse's bow shock is very young and likely has not reached a steady state, suggesting that the red supergiant star only entered its red supergiant phase recently.

Imaging the spotty surface of Betelgeuse in the H band

Betelgeuse's H-band images reveal two bright spots on its surface, potentially indicating convective cells, and confirm the star's limb-darkening and effective temperature.

High-resolution imaging of Betelgeuse and Mira

Betelgeuse's surface shows non-uniform brightness distribution, while Mira's disc is significantly elongated along position angle 120°, with radial intensity profiles indicating Gaussian profiles.

The close circumstellar environment of Betelgeuse - II. Diffraction-limited spectro-imaging from 7.76 to 19.50 μm with VLT/VISIR

The circumstellar envelope around Betelgeuse shows an inhomogeneous spatial distribution of material lost by the star, suggesting it forms most of the dust between the hot and compact gaseous envelope and the interstellar medium.

Betelgeuse Fainter in the Submillimeter Too: An Analysis of JCMT and APEX Monitoring during the Recent Optical Minimum

Betelgeuse has dimmed by 20% at submillimeter wavelengths during its recent optical minimum, likely due to changes in the star's photosphere rather than surrounding dust.

The magnetic field of Betelgeuse: a local dynamo from giant convection cells?

The magnetic field of Betelgeuse has been detected, potentially linked to giant convection cells, potentially enabling a local dynamo.

High Angular Resolution Interferometric Observations of Betelgeuse in the Visible

The new interferometric technique reveals evidence for departure from circular symmetry in Betelgeuse's fringes, suggesting a possible non-uniform stellar disk and irregular envelope.

Could Planet 9 be a Dwarf star

Dwarf stars like Betelgeuse may be the missing planet 9 due to discrepancies in distance measurements to red giant stars.

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