Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star at a distance of 724 lightyears from the Earth is nearly 50 per cent brighter than usual, leading astronomers to suggest that the star may explode in a violent supernova within tens of years.

About Betelgeuse :

* Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star that forms the left shoulder of the constellation of Orion.

* It is one of the brightest stars in the night sky and one of the largest stars ever discovered.

* The star is approximately 650 light-years from Earth.

* It is one of the largest known stars, measuring more than 700 million miles (1.2 billion kilometers) in diameter, 764 times as large as the Sun.

* It is known for its periodic dimming and brightening up.

Source : News9live