Which telescope was used to capture the first image of Betelgeuse B?

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The Very Large Telescope Captured the First Image of Betelgeuse B

The first image of Betelgeuse B, the elusive companion star to the red supergiant Betelgeuse, was captured using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) located in Chile. This significant astronomical achievement is the culmination of a century-long search for this stellar companion.
Observations from the VLT Provided Key Evidence

The evidence supporting the existence of Betelgeuse B was detailed in a study published on Tuesday, which relied on observations made by the VLT. The VLT's advanced capabilities allowed astronomers to overcome the challenge of spotting a faint object near the overwhelmingly bright Betelgeuse, a star approximately 1,000 times larger than the Sun.
Betelgeuse B's Mass Was Underestimated

Initially, astronomers believed Betelgeuse B was only about 1.5 times the mass of the Sun. However, the observations revealed that the companion star is significantly more massive, weighing between two to three times the Sun's mass. This greater mass was crucial in making it detectable by the VLT's instruments.
Data Analysis Took Time to Reveal the Discovery

The observations for capturing the image of Betelgeuse B were conducted in December 2024, specifically when the companion star was at its furthest point from Betelgeuse. Despite the data being collected then, the extensive processing and analysis required to confirm the findings meant the results were only published later in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

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Which telescope was used to capture the first image of Betelgeuse B?

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