Astronomy? Find a galaxy of information here.
(from Arabic bat al-dshauza, the giant's shoulder) Brightest star in the constellation Orion, marking the hunter's eastern shoulder. About 430 light-years from Earth, Betelgeuse is easily identifiable by its brightness, its position in brilliant Orion, and its deep reddish colour. It is a red supergiant star, one of the largest known; its diameter is roughly 500 times that of the Sun.
Find more information on Betelgeuse. Upgrade to Britannica Online for more on Betelgeuse.