Starwatch night sky events with Bob Mizon MBE of the Wessex Astronomical Society.

The twinkling stars of winter are especially bright towards the south, as major constellations such as Gemini, Orion and Taurus ride high.
The dominant constellation of the season is the large grouping of Orion the Hunter, with his brilliant shoulder, belt and leg stars.
Notice the colour contrast between the star adorning Orion’s shoulder, Betelgeuse (642 light years), a cool (3000 degrees) ageing red giant in the latest stages of its career, and leg star Rigel, a younger, blue and much hotter supergiant star 860 light years away.
Like many stars in the late stages of their lives, Betelgeuse varies a little in its light output. Recently, astronomers suspected that an unusual dimming of Betelgeuse might mean it was approaching a supernova explosion, but it was finally concluded that a dusty cloud had moved in front of it. Clear skies!