Betelgeuse's atmospheric asymmetries may stem from tidal interactions with a closely-orbiting companion star

Astronomers have discovered that Betelgeuse's vast atmosphere is developing irregular, spotty patterns, and new research suggests a nearby companion star may be gravitationally influencing these features. The giant red star, one of the most massive known, shows asymmetrical changes as its companion exerts tidal forces that distort its outer layers. This interaction reveals how closely-orbiting binary star systems can profoundly shape each other's appearance and behavior over time.