Betelgeuse, the star that is doomed to explode at any time

Astronomy enthusiasts across Europe had their telescopes trained on the night sky in anticipation of a significant celestial event—the occultation of Betelgeuse by asteroid Leona.

However, the spectacle turned out to be more subdued than many had hoped for. Initial observations suggest that the change in the star’s brightness was not as pronounced as predicted.

Fabrizio Melandri, an amateur astronomer from Terranova Da Sibari, Italy, shared his experience of the event. “Observing with the naked eye, the drop in brightness was barely visible,” spaceweather.com quoted him as saying.

To capture and illustrate the subtle change, Melandri employed his camera to take a one-minute star trail exposure. The resulting image revealed a modest and brief dip in Betelgeuse’s luminosity, noticeable about halfway through the shot

Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star located in the constellation Orion, was expected to dim significantly — by at least three magnitudes — as asteroid Leona passed in front of it. This prediction was based on the anticipated coverage of the star by the asteroid. However, Leona’s irregular shape may have contributed to the less dramatic effect observed. As it rotated, the asteroid might not have obscured as much of Betelgeuse as astronomers had initially calculated.

The event was widely anticipated by the scientific community and skywatchers alike, as occultations of bright stars by asteroids are relatively rare and can provide valuable data for both professional and amateur astronomers. Such occurrences allow for the study of an asteroid’s shape, size, and surface properties, as well as offering insights into the targeted star.

As the astronomy community continues to analyse data from various observation points across Europe, further reports are expected to shed light on the nuances of this cosmic encounter.

The initial findings underscore the unpredictable nature of astronomical events and the excitement they generate within the stargazing community. Enthusiasts are encouraged to stay tuned for additional updates and images from other observers who witnessed the event