Q 01/05

Betelgeuse belongs to the constellation Orion, which depicts what figure from Greek myth?

A) A hunter

B) A queen

C) A winged horse

D) A sea monster

Answer · why

A) A hunter

A hunter: Orion's belt lies almost on the celestial equator, which is why the figure can be seen from almost any part of the world.

Q 02/05

What type of star is Betelgeuse?

A) Red dwarf

B) Red supergiant

C) White dwarf

D) Blue giant

Answer · why

B) Red supergiant

Red supergiant: stars of this class are nearing the end of their lives and have puffed up in old age into the largest stars in the universe.

Q 03/05

Astronomers also catalogue Betelgeuse under which Greek-letter designation?

A) Gamma Orionis

B) Kappa Orionis

C) Alpha Orionis

D) Beta Orionis

Answer · why

C) Alpha Orionis

Alpha Orionis: alpha normally marks a constellation's brightest star, yet Betelgeuse is usually only second in its own.

Q 04/05

Which star is usually the only one in Betelgeuse's constellation that outshines it?

A) Bellatrix

B) Saiph

C) Alnilam

D) Rigel

Answer · why

D) Rigel

Rigel usually wins, but Betelgeuse's brightness swings so widely that it occasionally takes the lead for a while.

Q 05/05

Betelgeuse usually ranks about where among the brightest stars in the night sky?

A) Around 3rd

B) Around 10th

C) Around 40th

D) Around 150th

Answer · why

B) Around 10th

Around 10th: reference lists put Betelgeuse anywhere from ninth to eleventh, because its brightness never stays put.