Flames of Betelgeuse: New Image Reveals Vast Nebula Around Famous Supergiant Star

**Etabe** · 06-24-2011, 03:00 AM

Science News

Using the VISIR instrument on the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have imaged a complex and bright nebula around the supergiant star Betelgeuse in greater detail than ever before. This structure, which resembles flames emanating from the star, is formed as the behemoth sheds its material into space.

This picture of the dramatic nebula around the bright red supergiant star Betelgeuse was created from images taken with the VISIR infrared camera on ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT). This structure, resembling flames emanating from the star, forms because the behemoth is shedding its material into space. The earlier NACO observations of the plumes are reproduced in the central disc. The small red circle in the middle has a diameter about four and half times that of the Earth's orbit and represents the location of Betelgeuse's visible surface. The black disc corresponds to a very bright part of the image that was masked to allow the fainter nebula to be seen. (Credit: ESO/P. Kervella)

Source:Science Daily

**bart5050** · 06-24-2011, 06:49 AM

Thank you for posting.
Big stars evolve rapidly and fusion the elements that make up all that we are.
The first element was hydrogen, and stars manufactured everything else.

Betelgeuse reveals the process, it is where we came from.
We are stardust.