Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star in the constellation Orion, is nearing the end of its stellar evolution. It has exhausted the hydrogen in its core and is currently undergoing helium fusion, which causes its outer layers to expand and cool, giving it a reddish hue. Eventually, Betelgeuse will shed its outer layers, resulting in a planetary nebula, while its core will collapse into a neutron star or potentially explode as a supernova. This dramatic end is expected to occur within the next million years, making it a fascinating object of study in stellar evolution.
One well-known star that has exhausted its hydrogen fuel is Betelgeuse, a red supergiant in the constellation Orion. After depleting its hydrogen, Betelgeuse has transitioned to fusing helium and is in the late stages of stellar evolution. This stage will eventually lead it to explode as a supernova, marking the end of its life cycle. Its current state makes it an interesting subject for astronomers studying stellar evolution.
The first stage of stellar evolution is nebula.
You can find an overview of stelar evolution in the Wikipedia article entitled "Stellar evolution".
The longest stage of stellar evolution is the main sequence phase.
Betelgeuse is approximately 100,000 times brighter than our Sun. This red supergiant star, located in the Orion constellation, has an absolute magnitude of about -5.14, compared to the Sun's absolute magnitude of about +4.83. Its immense brightness is due to its size and the advanced stage of its stellar evolution.
Helium burning is most durable stage in stellar evolution.
Stellar evolution is the term for the changes a star undergoes during its lifetime.
Nuclear fusion affects stellar evolution by essentially halting all mitosis and miosis that any cells in a stellar evolution could experience, and they stunt the growth of the object.
Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star, has an effective surface temperature of around 3,500 Kelvin, while Rigel, a blue supergiant, has a much higher surface temperature of about 11,000 Kelvin. This significant difference in temperature is due to their stages in stellar evolution and their respective spectral classifications, with Betelgeuse being cooler and redder, and Rigel being hotter and bluer. Consequently, Rigel emits more energy than Betelgeuse, influencing their brightness and appearance in the night sky.
Both the Sun and Betelgeuse are stars, which means they are massive celestial bodies composed primarily of hydrogen and helium that produce energy through nuclear fusion. They are both located in the Milky Way galaxy, although Betelgeuse is in the Orion constellation and is significantly larger and more luminous than the Sun. Additionally, both stars are essential for the study of stellar evolution, as they represent different stages in the life cycle of stars.
Betelgeuse and Wolf 359 are both notable stars in our galaxy, but they differ significantly in size and type. Betelgeuse is a red supergiant located in the constellation Orion, known for its large size and brightness, while Wolf 359 is a faint red dwarf star in the constellation Leo, one of the closest stars to Earth. Both stars are important for astronomical studies, offering insights into stellar evolution, but they represent different stages and types of stellar life. Additionally, both have captured the interest of scientists and the public alike due to their distinct characteristics and positions in the night sky.
The endpoints of stellar evolution are: White Dwarf Neutron Star Black Hole The endpoint is dependent upon birth mass of the star.