This handout image released by The European Southern Observatory (ESO) on July 28, 2026, shows a composite of images taken by ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT), the image in the middle inset was taken in January 2019 with the SPHERE instrument at ESO's VLT, and shows Betelgeuse itself. The image in the inset on the left was taken in December 2024, when the companion was predicted to be furthest apart from Betelgeuse as seen from Earth. In this inset Betelgeuse has been removed, revealing a source (marked with a crosshair) consistent with being Betelgeuse B. An international team led by an astronomer from the Paris Observatory revealed on July 28, 2026, that the first visual evidence that Betelgeuse, one of the brightest stars in the galaxy, is not alone but in fact accompanied by another star. (Photo by European Southern Observatory / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO /ESO / HANDOUT / " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS