Betelgeuse Brightens: Supernova Imminent?

Betelgeuse, a red giant star in the constellation Orion, has been getting brighter, leading to speculation that it might soon explode in a supernova. However, astronomers believe that the star is still tens of thousands or maybe a hundred thousand years from exploding, if their models are correct. Betelgeuse is currently in the stage when it's burning helium to carbon and oxygen in its core, and it will sustain itself by burning carbon and oxygen into neon and magnesium, then burning those into silicon. Eventually, the star's core fills with iron, leading to a core-collapse supernova.