Betelgeuse Pronounciation

[tplank]

OK. I know this has been asked and answered a million times because I did voluminous googling. The problem is that you can pretty much pick any answer you want and there is somebody out there defending it. I was almost in a lather since the pronunciation I learned as a child (bay-tul-gheeze) was nowhere to be found. Then I even found that one as well.<br /><br />So I put this question to this august body of thinkers who have proven their willingness to consider any topic no matter how often presented (what telescope should I buy), how mundane (um, that would be THIS thread), or how magnificent (what existed before the universe). After all, it is astronomers that count and I’m just the arm chair wanna-be. I will submit to your wisdom.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>The Disenfranchised Curmudgeon</p><p>http://tonyplank.blogspot.com/ </p> </div>

 

[eric2006]

Say it three times and see what happens.

 

[harmonicaman]

Hmmm...<br /><br />I think <b>Eric's</b> answer is best. His reference to "Betelgeuse", the movie, may not be the most correct pronunciation, but at least it will be the most widely understood - which is what should prevail in my opinion.

 

[eric2006]

BETELGEUSE (Alpha Orionis). The great star Betelgeuse is one of the two that dominate mighty Orion of northern winter, the other Rigel, the pair respectively called Alpha and Beta Orionis. The name Betelgeuse is a corruption of the Arabic "yad al jauza," which means the "hand of al-jauza," al-jauza the ancient Arabs' "Central One," a mysterious woman. For us, it marks the upper left hand corner of the figure of the Greek's ancient hunter (and since he is facing you, his right shoulder). One of the sky's two first magnitude supergiants (the other Antares of northern summer), Betelgeuse is one of the larger stars that can be seen, indeed one of the larger stars to be found anywhere. Typically shining at magnitude 0.7, this class M (M1.5) red supergiant (with a temperature of about 3600 Kelvin) is a semi-regular variable that changes between magnitude 0.2 and 1.5 over multiple periods between roughly half a year and 6 years. At its most likely distance of 425 light years, its measured angular diameter yields a radius 600 times that of the Sun, 2.8 Astronomical Units. If placed at the Sun, the star would go 55% of the way to the orbit of the planet Jupiter. From its size and temperature, allowing for its infrared radiation, Betelgeuse shines an amazing 60,000 times brighter than our Sun, which coupled with the temperature also gives a radius of 2.8 AU. However, the star is ejecting part of itself through a strong wind, and is surrounded by a huge shell of dust of its own making. That, an extended atmosphere, and the pulsations make it difficult to locate an actual "surface" and to tell just how large the star actually is. Even the distance is subject to uncertainty, the luminosity ranging from 40,000 solar to 100,000 solar. Whatever the actual numbers, Betelgeuse is clearly a highly evolved star, one whose central hydrogen fuel supply has run out. As a result, the core contracted into a hot dense state, and the outer portions swelled outward. We do not really know the s

 

[eric2006]

I think that is how they said it on Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy also.

 

[Swampcat]

Check out this page and click on the little speaker icon. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

"Beetlejuice" is the most common pronunciation in English-speaking countries. However, there is dispute, and I don't think it's pronounced that way in other languages. It might be most useful to find out how they pronounce it in Arabic. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

Like many things, the "it varies" law applies. I have been told by astronomers at least 3 different ways of pronouncing it.<br /><br />By the way, even something as simple as the unit "joule" has significant variations in pronunciation.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[tplank]

I'm not really worried about this...I have just always liked wordplay. What about the pronounciation that seems to be deeply implanted in the neurons of my brain: bay-tul-gheeze? If we all got together in person, would you look at me like I drool and watch professional wrestling if I said bay-tul-gheeze?<br /><br />I thought the point about Arabic is a good one though. Does anybody know how it is pronounced in Arabic by modern astronomers? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>The Disenfranchised Curmudgeon</p><p>http://tonyplank.blogspot.com/ </p> </div>

 

[igorsboss]

<font color="yellow">"Beetlejuice" is the most common pronunciation in English-speaking countries.</font><br /><br />Agreed. I think we pronounce it that way because of the verbal joke that it resembles what you get when you squash a beetle.<br /><br />When I listened to swampcat's link, it sounded a little different, as if the "juice" syllable ended in a "z", as in "Beetle-juuz".