A vibrant red supergiant star glows brightly with fiery plasma loops extending from its surface against a dark, star-filled space.

Expansion: As a red supergiant, Betelgeuse has expanded dramatically, its atmosphere reaching out potentially past the orbit of Jupiter if it were in our solar system. Any inner planets that may have existed would have been engulfed and destroyed. Youth & Instability: Betelgeuse is only about 10 million years old. This short lifespan means there may not have been enough time for planets to form in stable orbits, and the star's high mass loss and dynamic changes make detection difficult. Detection Challenges: Betelgeuse's highly variable brightness and bouncing surface make it extremely difficult for current detection methods (like observing "wobble" or transits) to spot potential distant planets. See more