Betelgeuse, also known as Betelgeuse, the dazzling red star in the constellation Orion, will experience a rare astronomical event on December 12 – obscured by the asteroid Leona. This ephemeral phenomenon, which is expected to last no more than 10 seconds, will temporarily disappear the bright star from our sight.
This mesmerizing event is expected to occur on December 11 at 8:17 p.m. ET, at which point the Betelgeuse will be completely obscured or at least significantly darkened for a few seconds.
The area where the astronomical phenomenon can be fully observed begins near Guadalajara, Mexico, and travels through southern Florida, the Bahamas, Spain, and southern Italy, and continues to Greece, Turkey, and Central Asia. The masking will last nearly 18 minutes, starting at 8:08 p.m. and ending at 8:26 p.m. (01:08:23 to 01:26:00 UTC on December 12).
This occlusion will occur in an unusually narrow and limited band, so that only the inhabitants of a few parts of the planet will be able to witness the spectacle with their own eyes. But don't worry if you don't live on this path: the Virtual Telescope 2, located in southern Italy0 will broadcast this event live.
This is not only a feast for astronomy enthusiasts, but also an important opportunity for scientists. The Betelgeuse, located about 550 light-years from Earth, is known for its size, brightness, and the sudden and unavoidable drop in brightness that puzzles astronomers. Its classification as a semi-regular variable star and its fate as an eventual supernova have made it a hot topic in the astronomical community. The upcoming occlusion provides a unique opportunity to observe and understand the behavior and properties of such a giant star.
Astronomers are also looking forward to learning more about the outer mainbelt asteroid Leona through this event. The event will provide valuable data on Leona's size, shape, composition, potential atmosphere and even the presence of tiny satellites around it. Recent observations have improved our understanding of Leona, revealing its slightly elliptical shape, rather than the previously assumed spherical shape.
Italian Virtual Telescope 2Gianluca Masi, astronomer at Project 0, said: "These types of occlusion are very useful for limiting the shape of the asteroids involved. He added: "Here we hope to investigate the surface of the star involved: betelgeuse." It's a massive red supergiant, and as Leona looks through it from Earth, we hope to be able to learn more about the large convective cells that drive brightness. ”
If, from our vantage point, the Betelgeuse is larger than the Leona, then the occlusion spectacle may resemble a annular solar eclipse, where the star is not completely obscured. If smaller, a brief period of "full occlusion" may be observed. Astronomers recommend that amateur and professional observers use specialized equipment and techniques, such as different-colored filters and spectral analysis, to capture the nuances of events.
Despite the improved data, there is still some uncertainty about the exact path of Leona's shadows, adding an element of surprise to this astronomical phenomenon. So even if you're not on the expected eclipse path, you might want to take time out to look up at the sky on December 12, if just to admire the Betelgeuse and its place in the constellation Orion.