Starry Spectacle Unveiled: Asteroid to eclipse behemoth Betelgeuse in once-in-a-lifetime show! Here's where all you can see it
economictimes.indiatimes.comcelestial spectacle set to captivate gazers, a momentary eclipse is predicted as an asteroid passes in front of one of the night sky's prominent stars. Betelgeuse, a red supergiant in the Orion constellation, is slated to be obscured by the slowly rotating asteroid Leona, offering a fleeting yet rare glimpse for observers across specific regions.
The anticipated event, occurring from late Monday into early Tuesday, will grace the skies along a narrow trajectory from central Asia's Tajikistan and Armenia, traversing Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, Miami, the Florida Keys, and parts of Mexico. Astronomers anticipate a window of visibility lasting no more than 15 seconds.
Through this unique eclipse, scientists aim to glean more insights into both Betelgeuse and Leona. Recent estimations by a Spanish-led team, based on a previous eclipse involving Leona and a fainter star, gauged the asteroid's size to be approximately 34 miles wide and 50 miles long (55 kilometers wide and 80 kilometers long).
However, uncertainties loom regarding the accuracy of these predictions, including the star's size and its expansive atmosphere. The anticipation lies in whether the asteroid will entirely obscure Betelgeuse, resulting in a total eclipse, or create a mesmerizing «ring of fire» with a minute, luminous border encircling the star. The duration of Betelgeuse's disappearance, potentially up to 10 seconds in a total eclipse, remains uncertain.
«Astronomers are uncertain about which scenario will unfold, heightening the intrigue surrounding the event,» remarked astronomer Gianluca Masa, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project, set to host a live webcast from Italy.
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