{"id":21266,"date":"2020-02-25T13:35:58","date_gmt":"2020-02-25T18:35:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=21266"},"modified":"2020-02-25T13:35:58","modified_gmt":"2020-02-25T18:35:58","slug":"space-sciences-roundup-feb-25-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=21266","title":{"rendered":"Space sciences roundup – Feb.25.2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

A sampling of recent articles, videos, and images from space-related science news items (find previous roundups here<\/a>):<\/p>\n

Astronomy<\/strong><\/p>\n

** Resolving the surface of Betelgeuse 700 light years away<\/strong> with the VLT<\/a>‘s enormous mirrors: ESO Telescope Sees Surface of Dim Betelgeuse | ESO<\/a><\/p>\n

Using ESO\u2019s Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have captured the unprecedented dimming of Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star in the constellation of Orion. The stunning new images of the star\u2019s surface show not only the fading red supergiant but also how its apparent shape is changing.<\/em><\/p>\n

Betelgeuse has been a beacon in the night sky for stellar observers but it began to dim late last year. At the time of writing Betelgeuse is at about 36% of its normal brightness, a change noticeable even to the naked eye. Astronomy enthusiasts and scientists alike were excitedly hoping to find out more about this unprecedented dimming.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The red supergiant star Betelgeuse, in the constellation of Orion, has been undergoing unprecedented dimming. This stunning image of the star\u2019s surface, taken with the SPHERE instrument on ESO\u2019s Very Large Telescope late last year, is among the first observations to come out of an observing campaign aimed at understanding why the star is becoming fainter. When compared with the image taken in January 2019, it shows how much the star has faded and how its apparent shape has changed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n