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Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star located in the constellation Orion. It is one of the brightest stars in the night sky and is visible to the naked eye.
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Betelgeuse is one of the largest stars known, with a diameter estimated to be around 1,400 times that of the sun.
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The name "Betelgeuse" comes from the Arabic word "Yad al-Jauza" which means "Hand of Orion"
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Betelgeuse is a variable star, meaning its brightness changes over time. It has been observed to vary in brightness by a factor of two over a period of several years.
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Betelgeuse is a relatively young star, estimated to be only around 10 million years old, despite being in the late stages of its life.
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The star is about 640 light-years away from Earth and is one of the closest supergiants to us.
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Betelgeuse is expected to go supernova in the relatively near future, astronomically speaking, within the next 100,000 years.
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When it explodes, it will be visible during the day and be as bright as the full moon at night, and could potentially affect the Earth's atmosphere.
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Betelgeuse is a strong source of infrared radiation, which is why it appears red in color.
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The star is a member of the Orion OB1 association, which is a group of stars that formed together in the same region of space.