The Digital Press

The Gemini North telescope has discovered a previously unseen companion star orbiting very close to Betelgeuse, providing new insights into the red supergiant's behavior.

Why it matters: This is the first detection of a stellar companion orbiting inside a red supergiant's outer atmosphere, explaining brightness variations.

The big picture: Understanding Betelgeuse's companion helps clarify stellar evolution and interactions in late-stage massive stars.

The other side: The detection is statistically marginal (1.5 sigma) and similar bright spots in images raise questions about certainty.

Commenters say: Many are excited about the discovery’s implications for Betelgeuse’s variability, while some debate the detection’s statistical significance.