Summary:
- Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star in the Orion constellation, experienced a significant dimming event in late 2019 and early 2020, puzzling astronomers.
- The study found that the dimming was caused by a cloud of dust that temporarily obscured the star's surface, rather than a decrease in the star's brightness or size.
- The researchers also discovered a previously unknown companion star, dubbed "Betelbuddy," which is orbiting Betelgeuse and may have played a role in the dust formation and dimming event.