If we dropped Betelgeuse into our solar system, it would stretch beyond Jupiter’s orbit—swallowing Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and the asteroid belt!

But here’s the wild part: Betelgeuse is on the brink of death. And when it goes supernova—within the next 100,000 years—it could shine brighter than the Moon for weeks!

#Betelgeuse #Supernova #SpaceFacts #MindBlown

When You Look at Orion, You're Watching the Life Cycle of Stars Unfold in Real Time

It begins with Betelgeuse — the fiery red giant blazing at Orion’s shoulder. Enormous and unstable, it's nearing the end of its life. Within the next 100,000 years, it will explode in a brilliant supernova, briefly outshining the Moon and turning night into day.

Next, your eyes are drawn to Orion’s Belt — three iconic stars in perfect alignment: Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka. These massive suns are younger than Betelgeuse but destined for the same fate — to burn out and collapse into stellar remnants.

And just below them lies the Orion Nebula (M42) — a breathtaking cradle of creation. Here, clouds of gas and dust are actively forming newborn stars, giving rise to the next generation of cosmic giants.

In one glance, Orion tells a timeless story — of stars that are dying, stars in their prime, and stars just beginning to shine. It's not just a constellation; it's a living timeline, stretching millions of years across the sky.

We’re not just stargazing — we’re witnessing the universe in motion.
Background image credit: Akira Fujii�