The red supergiant star Betelgeuse has received a new rationale for its unpredictable behavior: a companion. Pronounced “Beetlejuice,” this star resides in the Orion constellation approximately 700 light-years away. Researchers have long been baffled by its actions, speculating that it may be on the brink of a supernova. Recently, astronomers suggested that an unseen companion star could be affecting Betelgeuse’s luminosity by clearing dust and exposing more starlight. A team led by NASA has now identified this companion using the Gemini North telescope situated in Hawaii. The dim star was located precisely where computer simulations anticipated. Formerly known as Alpha Ori b or “Betelbuddy,” the team proposes the name Siwarha, meaning “Her Bracelet.” Betelgeuse is roughly 100,000 times more luminous than the sun and has significantly ballooned in size. If it occupied the sun’s position, it would extend out to Jupiter. In 2019, Betelgeuse underwent a “Great Dimming,” which was subsequently linked to a dust cloud. This occurrence ignited interest in the star’s dual pulses, with some speculating that a companion star could be the cause. In late 2024, Steve Howell’s team monitored Betelgeuse and picked up a faint light, validating the presence of the companion star. It is considerably fainter than Betelgeuse and is classified as a hot, blue-white star. In approximately 10,000 years, it might spiral into Betelgeuse. Astronomers plan to observe the companion again in 2027 to gain further insights into the brightness variations of similar stars. Howell remarked that this detection stretches the boundaries of high-angular resolution imaging and creates new avenues for observation.