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News From the Field

Red Giant Star Betelgeuse is Mysteriously Shrinking


June 9, 2009

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The red supergiant star Betelgeuse, which is so large it would extend to Jupiter's orbit in our solar system, has steadily shrunk over the past 15 years, according to University of California, Berkeley, physicists. Since 1993, its radius has gone down by 15 percent, equivalent to the radius of Venus's orbit. This conclusion comes from unique laser interferometer observations by laser inventor and Nobel Laureate Charles Townes and his colleague, Edward Wishow.Full Story

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University of California, Berkeley

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