30 June 2017 Astronomy Now <\/p>\n
This orange blob shows the nearby star Betelgeuse, as seen by the Atacama Large Millimeter\/submillimeter Array (ALMA). This is the first time that ALMA has ever observed the surface of a star and this first attempt has resulted in the highest-resolution image of Betelgeuse available. <\/p>\n
Betelgeuse is one of the largest stars currently known with a radius around 1400 times larger than the Suns in the millimeter continuum. About 600 light-years away in the constellation of Orion (The Hunter), the red supergiant burns brightly, causing it to have only a short life expectancy. The star is just about eight million years old, but is already on the verge of becoming a supernova. When that happens, the resulting explosion will be visible from Earth, even in broad daylight. <\/p>\n
The star has been observed in many other wavelengths, particularly in the visible, infrared, and ultraviolet. Using ESOs Very Large Telescope astronomers discovered a vast plume of gas almost as large as our Solar System. Astronomers have also found a gigantic bubble that boils away on Betelgeuses surface. These features help to explain how the star is shedding gas and dust at tremendous rates. In this picture, ALMA observes the hot gas of the lower chromosphere of Betelgeuse at sub-millimeter wavelengths where localised increased temperatures explain why it is not symmetric. Scientifically, ALMA can help us to understand the extended atmospheres of these hot, blazing stars. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
View original post here: <\/p>\n
See the sharpest-ever view of giant Betelgeuse - Astronomy Now Online<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 30 June 2017 Astronomy Now This orange blob shows the nearby star Betelgeuse, as seen by the Atacama Large Millimeter\/submillimeter Array (ALMA). This is the first time that ALMA has ever observed the surface of a star and this first attempt has resulted in the highest-resolution image of Betelgeuse available Continue reading