A red supergiant nearing the end of its life cycle.
Recent studies suggest the existence of a smaller, Sun-like companion star (Betelgeuse B) that may influence its long-term brightness cycles. Life Cycle and Future alpha orionis
Usually the 10th brightest star in the night sky, its magnitude typically ranges from +0.0 to +1.3 . A red supergiant nearing the end of its life cycle
In late 2019 and early 2020, it experienced a historic drop in brightness, eventually attributed to a massive surface mass ejection that cooled into an obscuring dust cloud. 600 Kelvin (6
It is roughly 100,000 times brighter than the Sun but significantly cooler, with a surface temperature of approximately 3,600 Kelvin (6,020°F).