Be a Witness of this Captivating Spectacle
A captivating spectacle in our night sky is set to unfold next Tuesday, December 12, when the red giant star Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis), will briefly ‘blink out’ from sight.
Betelgeuse, renowned for its distinct reddish hue, is one of the largest stars visible to the naked eye on clear nights. Located 640 light-years away from Earth, it’s a part of the Orion constellation, famously known as one of the hunter’s shoulders (see below: Ori_Orion_Star_Chart by freestarcharts.com).
This massive star is nearing the end of its life cycle, and its fluctuating brightness has long been a subject of study. Betelgeuse is the second largest star in the constellation Orion after Rigel.
This rare astronomical event, a momentary disappearance lasting only a few seconds, is not only a treat for stargazers but also a significant occurrence for astronomers around the globe. For a fleeting moment, a distant celestial body, asteroid 319 Leona, will pass directly in front of Betelgeuse from our vantage point on Earth. This extraordinary alignment, known as a “transit event,” will cause the star to seemingly vanish from the sky.
How to Observe and/or Capture this Event?
This event presents a unique opportunity for both amateur and professional astronomers.
Observatories across the world are gearing up to capture this moment, which could provide valuable insights into Betelgeuse’s properties, including its size, luminosity, and potential planetary system. One of these observatories is the Virtual Telescope Project which will be sharing the view live from Southern Italy (see below event link).
Amateur astronomers, too, can witness this event with a telescope or even binoculars, provided the sky is clear. You can also join your local astronomy club to watch this event together with others. It’s also possible to record the occultation of Betelgeuse using modest equipment like a DSLR on a tripod and setting the camera in video mode. Keep the exposures short, just a few milliseconds.
Asteroid 319 Leona will be observable only through large telescopes, due to its faintness at a magnitude of 14.3.
The star chart below shows the position of the red supergiant Betelgeuse in the Orion constellation. Since located just north of the celestial equator, Betelgeuse can be seen from every permanently inhabited location worldwide. It’s best seen during December, January and February.
How to Watch the Brief Disappearance of Betelgeuse?
To witness this event, viewers should look towards the constellation Orion at the specified time. The exact timing of the disappearance will vary depending on the viewer’s location and is only visible in a narrow path from central Mexico eastward across southern Florida. After the path crosses the Atlantic Ocean, the event will be visible from southern Europe and central Asia. Countries where Betelgeuse’s brief disappearance will be visible include Turkey, Greece, Sicily, Portugal, Spain, Italy, … .
It is recommended to be prepared a few minutes in advance to ensure that you are not missing this brief phenomenon.
Betelgeuse will disappear for 5 to 15 seconds.
An interactive map of the path of visibility for the occultation can be found at => https://cloud.occultwatcher.net/event/1075-319-83995-648466-H27989/Horizons;Preston;1246616
Here is another map of the path of visibility for the occultation => https://www.asteroidoccultation.com/2023_12/1212_319_82912_Map.gif
See also the link below from NASA Space News to a video about the occultation of Betelgeuse by Asteroid 319 Leona.
The Significance for Astronomy
The disappearance of Betelgeuse, though brief, offers a rare chance to study the environment around this ageing star. Understanding the dynamics of such events helps scientists gain deeper knowledge about the life cycle of stars, particularly those nearing supernova status. In other words, this event will give an idea of how the night sky will appear once Betelgeuse has undergone a supernova explosion and subsequently fades into darkness.
More important information about Betelgeuse:
Betelgeuse’s size is immense, with its diameter potentially reaching up to 1.67 billion kilometers (1.04 billion miles), roughly 1,200 times greater than the Sun’s. Were it to sit at the heart of our Solar System, its vastness would encompass the orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Despite its size, Betelgeuse has a lower density compared to the Sun, making it only about 8 to 20 times as massive.
Betelgeuse was the first star to be directly imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope (in 1995) and is about 10,000 times more luminous than the Sun.
The star is believed to have depleted its hydrogen reserves, now burning helium in its core.
Starting in October 2019, Betelgeuse dimmed. Astronomers thought the brightness of the red supergiant dropped. The decrease of the brightness was noticeable even with the naked eye. This unusual change led to widespread speculation among astronomers and the public alike, with theories ranging from the star being on the brink of a supernova to less dramatic explanations. Also among my fellow astronomers and astrophotographers in personal talks, astronomy forums, social media, etc.
Eventually, it turned out that the brightness of Betelgeuse didn’t change but instead, it was ejecting material from its surface that cooled into a dust cloud and blocked the light. This phenomenon, which occurred around late 2019 and early 2020 came to be known as “the Great Dimming”. Astronomers have been using the Hubble Space Telescope and other telescopes to study this phenomenon.
Since April 2020, Betelgeuse has been on its way to recovery and has brightened by almost 50%. Betelgeuse is not just a red supergiant; it is also classified as a semiregular variable star, exhibiting periodic variations in its brightness, albeit with fluctuating intensities.
In time, Betelgeuse will meet a dramatic end in a supernova explosion, a sight that will rival the brightness of the crescent Moon, casting pronounced shadows and visible in broad daylight. This could occur as soon as tomorrow or may not happen for another million years; the exact timing remains uncertain.
Here are 5 interesting facts about the star Betelgeuse:
- Vast Size: Betelgeuse is a red supergiant, one of the largest types of stars known. If it were placed at the center of our solar system, it would extend past the orbit of Mars, engulfing Mercury, Venus, Earth, and possibly Mars.
- Impending Supernova: Betelgeuse is nearing the end of its life cycle and is expected to explode in a supernova. This spectacular event ‘could’ happen within the next 100,000 years, and when it does, the supernova will be visible from Earth even during the day.
- Variable Brightness: Betelgeuse is a variable star, meaning its brightness changes over time. These changes are irregular and have attracted considerable interest from astronomers trying to understand the underlying processes.
- Close Proximity to Earth: At a distance of 640 light-years from Earth, Betelgeuse is relatively close in astronomical terms. This proximity, combined with its size, makes it one of the few stars whose surface can be imaged by telescopes.
- Cultural Impact: Betelgeuse is a well-known star in human culture and history, being part of the Orion constellation, which is prominent and easily recognizable in the night sky. It has been featured in various mythologies and is often referred to in modern media and literature.
These facts highlight Betelgeuse’s unique characteristics and its significance both in the field of astronomy and in cultural contexts.
Furthermore, the scientific data gathered during the occultation could shed light on the nature of the object causing the transit, potentially unlocking secrets about distant celestial bodies, like asteroid 319 Leona in this case. How did the asteroid get its shape? How did the asteroid get its size?
For example, the people from The Virtual Telescope Project will try to grab scientific data, while streaming the special occultation live from southern Italy where it will be easily visible. They might also have the capability to chart the unusually large convective cells of Betelgeuse, through which the star experiences periods of brightening and dimming over several months.
Here are 5 interesting facts about Asteroid 319 Leona:
- Discovery Date and Discoverer: Asteroid 319 Leona was discovered on October 8, 1891, by the French astronomer Auguste Charlois, who named the asteroid after his wife’s name. Charlois was a prolific discoverer of asteroids, and his discovery of 319 Leona added to the growing list of known bodies in the asteroid belt.
- Main Belt Location: 319 Leona is located in the asteroid belt, a region of space between Mars and Jupiter filled with numerous asteroids. This location is significant for understanding the asteroid’s dynamics and interactions within the solar system.
- Orbital Characteristics: Like many asteroids in the asteroid belt, 319 Leona orbits the Sun with specific characteristics that astronomers study to understand better the dynamics of these small celestial bodies. The orbit of 319 Leona, like its size and composition, offers insights into the history and evolution of the solar system.
- Remnant of Solar System Formation: As an asteroid, 319 Leona is considered a remnant from the early solar system. Studying such asteroids helps scientists gain insights into the conditions and materials present during the solar system’s formation.
- Subject of Astronomical Studies: Over the years, 319 Leona has been the subject of various observational studies. These studies aim to determine its physical characteristics, such as size, composition, and reflectivity. Understanding these aspects of 319 Leona contributes to the broader knowledge of asteroid properties and behaviors in the solar system.
These facts collectively highlight the importance of 319 Leona in the study of asteroids and the solar system’s history.
What are asteroids?
Asteroids are small, rocky objects that go around the Sun. They travel around the Sun just like the Earth and other planets do, but they are much, much smaller.
There are a whole bunch of these space rocks and pebbles in our solar system. Most of them are in a special area called the main asteroid belt. This belt is like a big space ring between Mars and Jupiter.
But asteroids don’t just stay in this belt. They can be found in other places in space too. Some asteroids even travel around the Sun on the same path as planets. Our Earth and some other planets have these travelling buddies that go with them around the Sun.
Asteroids are kind of like leftovers from when our solar system was made a very long time ago, about 4.6 billion years back. It all started with a huge cloud of gas and dust that squished together. Most of this stuff went into making the Sun.
When this big cloud was coming together, some parts of it turned into planets. But the bits and pieces in the asteroid belt didn’t get to become part of a planet. So, they are like the bits that were left over from when the planets were being made.
The first asteroid, Ceres, was found, serendipitously, by the Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi of the Palermo Observatory on January 1, 1801. With a diameter of 920 km (572 miles), Ceres has since acquired the status of a dwarf planet.
Asteroids are unique because they originated in various places at different distances from the sun, leading to their diverse characteristics. Here’s how they vary:
- Unlike planets, which are mostly round, asteroids come in various shapes, often rugged and uneven.
- The size of asteroids varies greatly. While some can be as large as hundreds of miles across, many others are tiny, similar in size to pebbles.
- The composition of asteroids isn’t uniform. Most are rocky, but some contain materials like clays or metals, including nickel and iron.
Conclusion
The upcoming disappearance of Betelgeuse is more than just an astronomical curiosity; it’s a reminder of the ever-changing and dynamic nature of our universe. Events like these underscore the importance of continuous observation and study of the cosmos, as each event holds the potential to unravel new mysteries and enhance our understanding of the universe we inhabit.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to observe this event with my telescope as rain and clouds are predicted for my region.
Fortunately, there is the possibility of being able to watch this event through The Virtual Telescope Project or other YouTube channels.
The Virtual Telescope Project will be streaming the event live on December 12, 2023, starting at 01:00 UTC => https://www.youtube.com/live/ELQx7SCadM4?si=QQ5soSR01VGssswt
Here you can watch the video from NASA Space News concerning the occultation of Betelgeuse by Asteroid 319 Leona => https://youtu.be/RgCfXmKIcN8?si=_2G-yy1Rd7jmkSGH
Will you be watching this event? Or maybe join your local astronomy club for this event? Or maybe you want to start a new challenge and photograph it or record it on video?
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