Spectroscopic evidence for a large spot on the dimming Betelgeuse

Sofya Alexeeva, Gang Zhao (), Dong-Yang Gao, Junju Du, Aigen Li, Kai Li and Shaoming Hu
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Sofya Alexeeva: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Gang Zhao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Dong-Yang Gao: Shandong University
Junju Du: Shandong University
Aigen Li: University of Missouri
Kai Li: Shandong University
Shaoming Hu: Shandong University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract During October 2019 and March 2020, the luminous red supergiant Betelgeuse demonstrated an unusually deep minimum of its brightness. It became fainter by more than one magnitude and this is the most significant dimming observed in the recent decades. While the reason for the dimming is debated, pre-phase of supernova explosion, obscuring dust, or changes in the photosphere of the star were suggested scenarios. Here, we present spectroscopic studies of Betelgeuse using high-resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio near-infrared spectra obtained at Weihai Observatory on four epochs in 2020 covering the phases of during and after dimming. We show that the dimming episode is caused by the dropping of its effective temperature by at least 170 K on 2020 January 31, that can be attributed to the emergence of a large dark spot on the surface of the star.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25018-3

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