- Astronomers used the Very Large Telescope (VLT) to obtain the clearest image yet of Betelgeuse's companion star, Betelgeuse B, providing the strongest evidence that Betelgeuse is a binary system.
- The existence of Betelgeuse B was proposed about 100 years ago to explain the star's unusual dimming, but this new direct observation confirms it after a century-long quest.
- The companion star was found to have a mass two to three times that of the Sun, larger than previously theorized, and was detected using the SPHERE instrument's coronagraph and advanced optics.
- The discovery was made possible by predicting Betelgeuse B's position in December 2024, and the team aims to confirm the finding with further observations on the opposite side of the star.
- The presence of Betelgeuse B raises questions about its impact on the evolution of the red supergiant star, which is nearing the end of its life.