Betelgeuse is continuing to behave mysteriously—here's what would happen if it exploded

The bright, red star Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion has shown some unexpected behavior. In late 2019 and 2020 it became fainter than we had ever seen it—at least in records going back more than a century. Briefly it became fainter (just about) than Bellatrix, the third brightest star of Orion. This event became known as the "great dimming."