GoKawiilALMA imaging shows Betelgeuse's hotspot persisted for at least seven years
New ALMA observations of Betelgeuse, taken in 2023 at record resolution, reveal an uneven, corrugated surface with bright hotspots up to 800 K warmer than the surrounding 2300 K atmosphere. Comparing these images to earlier 2015 ALMA data, astronomers found that a prominent hotspot in the northeast has remained in nearly the same position and brightness for years.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The longevity of this hot region challenges current models of convection in red supergiants, which predict that such large-scale surface structures should evolve or dissipate much faster. Because Betelgeuse is close and huge enough to be resolved in detail, it serves as a rare testbed for understanding the turbulent processes that drive mass loss and eventual supernova behavior in massive dying stars.
- ALMA's 2023 images achieved 7-milliarcsecond resolution, revealing hotspots and an irregular stellar outline.
- A hotspot first seen in 2015 data reappeared in nearly the same spot in 2023, implying a lifespan of 7+ years.
- The star's radius varies by up to 6%, and extended emission reaches several stellar radii into its atmosphere.
Celestron NexStar 8SE Telescope — Betelgeuse sits right on Orion's shoulder, and the NexStar 8SE's computerized GoTo mount makes finding it (and thousands of other targets) effortless on a winter night. Its 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain optics deliver bright, crisp views of the red supergiant's distinctive color, plus the Orion Nebula just below it.
See Celestron NexStar 8SE Telescope on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: almaobservatory.org, 2026-08-28
Published there as: “ALMA Reveals Long-Lived Hotspots on Betelgeuse's Bubbling Surface”
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