CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. An asteroid is set to momentarily cloak one of the night sky’s most prominent stars, Betelgeuse, in a dazzling and unprecedented eclipse. This celestial spectacle is scheduled to unfold late Monday into early Tuesday, offering millions along a narrow path from central Asia to parts of Mexico a rare and fleeting glimpse.
Betelgeuse, a red supergiant in the Orion constellation, will play host to this unique event as it gets obscured by the slowly rotating asteroid, Leona, situated in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Astronomers are eager to seize this opportunity to learn more about Betelgeuse and the asteroid Leona during the brief 15-second eclipse. A Spanish-led team’s estimation of Leona’s size at approximately 34 miles wide and 50 miles long stems from a prior eclipse of a dimmer star in September.
Lingering uncertainties surround predictions about the size of both the star and the asteroid, adding an element of mystery to the event. It remains uncertain if the asteroid will entirely obscure Betelgeuse, resulting in a total eclipse, or if a captivating “ring of fire” effect will be produced. Astronomers are uncertain about the duration of a potential total eclipse, speculating it could last up to 10 seconds.
Gianluca Masa, astronomer and founder of the Virtual Telescope Project, expresses the intrigue, emphasizing the uncertain outcome of the event. The Virtual Telescope Project will provide a live webcast from Italy, offering a global audience a front-row seat to this extraordinary celestial encounter.
Situated an estimated 700 light-years away, Betelgeuse is visible to the naked eye, with binoculars and small telescopes enhancing the view. The red supergiant, thousands of times brighter and 700 times larger than our sun, holds the potential to stretch beyond Jupiter if it replaced our solar system’s star.
At 10 million years old, Betelgeuse is considerably younger than our sun, leading scientists to anticipate its short-lived existence due to its massive size and rapid material consumption. The star made headlines in 2019 when a significant expulsion of surface material resulted in a dramatic dimming, followed by a rapid return to its previous brightness within six months.
Scientists speculate that Betelgeuse will go supernova in a violent explosion within the next 100,000 years, adding a layer of anticipation to this already captivating celestial event. As skywatchers prepare for the rare eclipse, the universe offers a reminder of its timeless and awe-inspiring wonders.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
