Series: Astronomy Colloquium
Date: Wednesday 10-Nov-2021
Time: 16:05-17:00 (4:05-5:00 pm)
Location: via Zoom
Speaker: Dr. Miguel Montargès
Title: The Great Dimming of Betelgeuse spatially resolved by the VLT/VLTI
During winter 2019-2020, the nearby red supergiant star Betelgeuse (alpha Ori) an unprecedented drop in brightness, reaching its historic magnitude maximum of V~1.6 during February 2020. I will present the outcome of our VLT/VLTI that spatially resolved the star at the time of the Great Dimming. This event, visible to the unaided eye, caused a media frenzy but it also allowed us to better understand the mass-loss process of red supergiants. The rate of this outflow has a crucial impact on the fate of the star: it defines its final mass - hence the mass of the compact object that will remain after the supernova - and also the nature of the supernova progenitor. During the Great Dimming, we may have directly witnessed an enhanced mass ejection in the environment of Betelgeuse.
Colloquia for the Fall 2020 semester will be held on zoom. Contact Dr. Leslie Sage for details.
Colloquium Organizer:
Dr. Leslie Sage
Special accommodations for individuals with disabilities can be made by calling (301) 405-3001. It would be appreciated if we are notified at least one week in advance.
