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Astronomy: Is Betelgeuse redder than usual? (Also new potpourri thread)

Z

Zoltar

Senior member
If so, does anyone have any relevant links on why/what's up with the star right now?

Get this question right, get the baton. (look up potpourri in search if you don't know how to play.)

What is brightest visual magnitude star?
 
There is nothing up with Betelgeuse. It is probably just atmospheric effects that make you think it looks redder. It is a variable star, but the period is over 6 yrs.

And the Sun is the brightest visual magnitude star. In the night sky, Alpha Canis Major is the brightest.


The devil would never worry about astronomy--it doesn't pay enough! 🙂
 
canas major a = sirius a.....
do i get somethign??
o pls???
how bout next??
canopus
arcturus
rigel kentaurus....
want an H-R diagram for the top 15 including sun??
hehe... i just finished my ast201 assignment last nigh....

maybe betelgeuse is becoming a planetary nebulae?? red exhaust gases?? extra red shift?
me just full of bs....
 
It's not something as drastic as those suggestions, littleprince. If Zoltar is observing Betelgeuse around 10-11pm local time, the star is close to the horizon. The starlight has more atmosphere to travel through than when viewed closer to the zenith. Our atmosphere scatters shorter wavelengths, and the object looks 'redder'. The same thing happens to the Sun around sunset.

I am glad that you are taking an astro course. Keeps people like me employed.

 
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