Part 2/14:
Understanding the Majesty of Betelgeuse
Before delving into the discovery itself, it’s essential to grasp just how colossal and unique Betelgeuse is. Its radius is approximately 700 times that of the Sun, meaning inside the volume occupied by Betelgeuse, over 400 million Suns could fit. To visualize, if Betelgeuse replaced the Sun at the center of our Solar System, its surface would extend well beyond Jupiter’s orbit. The star’s immense size results in an astonishing energy output—around 135,000 times that of the Sun—making it a luminous beacon visible from 650 light-years away.