Betelgeuse’s Companion Star Siwarha Causes Atmospheric Disturbances, New Radio Images Reveal

New radio observations of the red supergiant Betelgeuse have revealed subtle atmospheric disturbances caused by its recently discovered companion star, Siwarha. The findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, provide the first direct evidence of the companion’s gravitational influence on Betelgeuse’s extended atmosphere. Siwarha, a small star estimated to be about 1.2 times the mass of the Sun, orbits Betelgeuse at a distance roughly equivalent to the orbit of Jupiter, periodically stirring up the outer layers of the supergiant. This interaction may help explain the star’s unusual dimming events and complex pulsation patterns observed in recent years. The research team, led by Dr. Andrea Dupree of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to map the star’s radio emissions with unprecedented detail. The images show localized hot spots and asymmetries in Betelgeuse’s atmosphere that align with the predicted position of Siwarha. Understanding this binary system is crucial, as Betelgeuse is one of the closest red supergiants to Earth and a future supernova candidate. The companion’s influence could alter the star’s evolution and eventual explosion, making it a key factor in predicting when and how Betelgeuse will meet its end. As astronomers continue to monitor this stellar duo, they hope to unlock more secrets about the final stages of massive stars.