Betelgeuse - a star 700 light-years from Earth that astronomers speculate could be set to explode in a devastating supernova - has been photographed, and the images show it is dimming and changing shape. Astronomers behind the new observations say while the star will go supernova at some point, the dimming is more likely caused by either a cooling of the surface or the ejection of dust blocking some of its light from Earth. A supernova occurs when a giant star, similar to Betelgeuse, reaches the end of its life and runs out of fuel to keep burning - it condenses in on its self then expels its material in a giant explosion. Betelgeuse began to dim late last year with astronomers noting it was the dullest it had been since observations of the star began decades earlier - this prompted suggestions it could be preparing to explode in a supernova. If it were to explode we would see it from Earth as light in the day and night sky as bright as the moon, before it fades from view - however astronomers say it could take up to 100,000 years before this happens. #astronomy