Dimming Of One Of Galaxy's Brightest Stars 'caused By Dust Cloud'
Umer Jamshaid Published August 14, 2020 | 01:50 AM
Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Aug, 2020 ) :The sudden dimming of one of the Milky Way's brightest stars, Betelgeuse, could be due to a dust cloud spewing up from its surface, astronomers said on Thursday.
The mystery has enthralled skywatchers since the star -- part of the Orion constellation -- began to lose luminosity last October, with some experts suggesting it could herald its explosion into a supernova.
But researchers working with the Hubble telescope now have a clearer picture, seeing superhot plasma being unleashed from the star's surface, cooling in the outer layers of the atmosphere and eventually turning to dust.
"The resulting cloud blocked light from about a quarter of the star's surface," the European Space Agency said in a statement, adding that the star has since returned to its normal brightness.
"With Hubble, we see the material as it left the star's visible surface and moved out through the atmosphere, before the dust formed that caused the star to appear to dim," said lead researcher Andrea Dupree of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in the United States.
"We could see the effect of a dense, hot region in the southeast part of the star moving outward."The researchers, due to publish their findings in The Astrophysical Journal, said they were not sure of the ultimate cause of the plasma eruption.
Betelgeuse, almost 1,000 times the size of the Sun, is 725 light years from Earth, meaning the event witnessed by the telescope happened around the beginning of the 14th century.
Recent Stories
Five killed, 1,351 injured in Punjab road accidents
President urges Australian companies to invest in Pakistan
Nazeer Tarar introduces (The Tax Law Amendment Bill 2024)
Spain PM under pressure as wife faces graft probe
UUVAS arranges seminar to commemorate Allama Iqbal
Vaccines save at least 154 million lives in 50 years: WHO
Young officers visit PID for briefing on govt principal public relations agency
RUDA takes stern action against pyrolysis plants, dismantles five
U.S. Secretary of State Blinken arrives in Shanghai
PM Shehbaz asked to extend hand to Imran Khan, India
BISE Hyderabad to announce HSC-Il result exams on April 25
ARI calls for comprehensive measures to curb tobacco use
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
23 hours ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
2 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
3 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
3 days ago -
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
3 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
3 days ago
-
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
5 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
9 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
10 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
10 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
13 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
15 days ago