Astronomers have previously speculated that the red supergiant, once thought to be on the brink of supernova , has a companion. The companion star, recently dubbed Siwarha , solves a major problem for scientists, said Dupree, who presented the research at the 247th American Astronomical Society meeting in Phoenix this week. "There are no X-rays detected, so it is not a black hole or neutron star or accreting young star. The team detected Siwarha’s wake by tracking changes in Betelgeuse's starlight over eight years. If confirmed, this would be one of the clearest examples of catching a star as it spirals into its companion.

Source: The Star January 07, 2026 10:30 UTC