Alpha Orionis -

Usually the 10th brightest star in the night sky, its magnitude typically ranges from +0.0 to +1.3 .

If placed at the center of our solar system, it would engulf the orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, likely extending past Jupiter's orbit . alpha orionis

A red supergiant nearing the end of its life cycle. Usually the 10th brightest star in the night

In late 2019 and early 2020, it experienced a historic drop in brightness, eventually attributed to a massive surface mass ejection that cooled into an obscuring dust cloud. In late 2019 and early 2020, it experienced

Betelgeuse is a , meaning its brightness fluctuates over time.

Recent studies suggest the existence of a smaller, Sun-like companion star (Betelgeuse B) that may influence its long-term brightness cycles. Life Cycle and Future

Distinctive orange-red hue, visible even without equipment. Variability and Observation