What if the massive red star Betelgeuse erupted in a supernova? As one of the brightest stars visible to the naked eye, its potential explosion raises intriguing questions about Earth's safety.

For decades, astronomers have been puzzled by Betelgeuse's strange wake, a long, comet-like trail of gas that stretches through space behind the famous red supergiant star. Now, because of new ...

This artist’s concept shows the red supergiant star Betelgeuse and an orbiting companion star creating a wake in the larger object's atmosphere. - Elizabeth Wheatley/ESA/NASA Astronomers have long ...

(CNN) — Astronomers have long searched for clues that a hidden companion star sits out of view near the red supergiant star Betelgeuse. Now, they’ve uncovered a new piece of evidence: a trail like the ...