Here's what we know:
* Diameter: Betelgeuse is estimated to be around 700 times the diameter of our Sun. That's roughly 900 million kilometers (550 million miles).
* Variability: Betelgeuse is a variable star, meaning its size fluctuates. It's known to pulsate, getting slightly larger and smaller over time.
* Recent Shrinking: In 2019, Betelgeuse went through a period of significant dimming, which led to some speculation about it being on the verge of going supernova. While this wasn't the case, the dimming did indicate that the star's size had shrunk considerably.
So, while the rough estimate of 700 times the Sun's diameter is a good starting point, it's important to remember that Betelgeuse is a dynamic star, and its size is constantly shifting.
