Changes

==Future Supernova==

==Future Supernova==

Due to its extremely high mass though, the star is fusing core [[helium]] into [[carbon]] and [[oxygen]], which has swelled the outer layers of gas in the star, causing its great size.  Eventually the star will fuse heavier elements all the way to [[iron]] before collapsing into a [[supernova]].<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=Aq24O7B4ehoC&dq=the+hundred+greatest+stars&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=PNMnS5-BHI3anAeqsLm1DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Betelgeuse&f=false</ref>  Such an explosion would be so bright, it would outshine the full [[moon]].<ref name="Bettle">http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/betelgeuse.html</ref>. A date for the nova has been set by some at 2012; others however are more skeptical, as astronomers have claimed such a prediction is impossible to tell<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/01/21/betelgeuse-explode-scientists-say/?test=faces</ref>.

Due to its extremely high mass though, the star is fusing core [[helium]] into [[carbon]] and [[oxygen]], which has swelled the outer layers of gas in the star, causing its great size.  Eventually the star will fuse heavier elements all the way to [[iron]] before collapsing into a [[supernova]].<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=Aq24O7B4ehoC&dq=the+hundred+greatest+stars&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=PNMnS5-BHI3anAeqsLm1DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Betelgeuse&f=false</ref>  Such an explosion would be so bright, it would outshine the full [[moon]].<ref name="Bettle"/>  A date for the nova has been set by some at 2012; others however are more skeptical, as astronomers have claimed such a prediction is impossible to tell.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/01/21/betelgeuse-explode-scientists-say/?test=faces</ref>

The [[UC Berkeley|UC Berkeley's]] Infrared Spatial Interferometer (ISI) atop [[Mt. Wilson Observatory]] in Southern [[California]] collected evidence over 15 consecutive years, showing the star is constantly contracting<ref>http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/06/09/red.giant.star.betelgeuse.mysteriously.shrinking</ref>. The star is estimated to have shrunk 15 percent in size since 1993 and the rate of contraction is increasing, the total observed contraction is equal to half an astronomical unit, or equivalent of the distance of Venus from the sun<ref>http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2009/06/09_betelim.shtml</ref>. It is speculated this is the behavior expected for a star that has reached the end of its life and the beginning of gravitational collapse.  Because of the mass of Betelgeuse, the result of the supernova explosion will be either a [[neutron star]] or even a [[black hole]].

The [[UC Berkeley|UC Berkeley's]] Infrared Spatial Interferometer (ISI) atop [[Mt. Wilson Observatory]] in Southern [[California]] collected evidence over 15 consecutive years, showing the star is constantly contracting.<ref>http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/06/09/red.giant.star.betelgeuse.mysteriously.shrinking</ref>  The star is estimated to have shrunk 15 percent in size since 1993 and the rate of contraction is increasing, the total observed contraction is equal to half an astronomical unit, or equivalent of the distance of Venus from the sun.<ref>http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2009/06/09_betelim.shtml</ref>  It is speculated this is the behavior expected for a star that has reached the end of its life and the beginning of gravitational collapse.  Because of the mass of Betelgeuse, the result of the supernova explosion will be either a [[neutron star]] or even a [[black hole]].

Updated high resolution images of Betelgeuse obtained by the [[Very Large Telescope]] in [[Chile]] in July 2009, revealed new evidence that Betelgeuse is rapidly shedding mass.  A large gas plume is shown to be surrounding the star.<ref>http://www.eso.org/gallery/v/ESOPIA/Stars/phot-27b-09-fullres.tif.html</ref>  If the plume was in our solar system, it would extend to the orbit of [[Jupiter]].  The plume is viewed as further evidence by scientists the star is very near the end of its life.<ref>http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090805.html</ref>

Updated high resolution images of Betelgeuse obtained by the [[Very Large Telescope]] in [[Chile]] in July 2009, revealed new evidence that Betelgeuse is rapidly shedding mass.  A large gas plume is shown to be surrounding the star.<ref>http://www.eso.org/gallery/v/ESOPIA/Stars/phot-27b-09-fullres.tif.html</ref>  If the plume was in our solar system, it would extend to the orbit of [[Jupiter]].  The plume is viewed as further evidence by scientists the star is very near the end of its life.<ref>http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090805.html</ref>