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

CORRECTION / A view of the ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) headquarters at Konggang Industrial Park in Hefei, eastern China's Anhui province on July 27, 2026. China's leading memory chipmaker soared 470 percent in its market debut in Shanghai on July 27, briefly surpassing megabank ICBC as the mainland's most valuable company. (Photo by CN-STR / AFP via Getty Images) / China OUT / "The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Pedro PARDO has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: removing the byline. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require."

CORRECTION / A view of the ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) headquarters at Konggang Industrial Park in Hefei, eastern China's Anhui province on July 27, 2026. China's leading memory chipmaker soared 470 percent in its market debut in Shanghai on July 27, briefly surpassing megabank ICBC as the mainland's most valuable company. (Photo by CN-STR / AFP via Getty Images) / China OUT / "The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by Pedro PARDO has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: removing the byline. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require."

This photo taken on June 24, 2026 shows a police boat patroling the Han River in Seoul. Seoul's Han River is a landmark of the glittering South Korean capital, but also a frequent scene of despair in a country with one of the world's highest suicide rates. The artificial intelligence-driven surveillance system alerts first responders if someone lingers in certain locations, enters an area deemed unsafe, or picks up one of the bridges' dedicated suicide-prevention phones. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP via Getty Images) / To go with 'Skorea-Japan-Social-Suicide-Technology-AI' by Claire LEE and Natsuko FUKUE

The photo taken on June 24, 2026 shows Kim Jun-young, chief of Hangang Bridge CCTV Integrated Control Center, introducing the AI surveillance cameras during an interview with AFP in the control room in Seoul. Seoul's Han River is a landmark of the glittering South Korean capital, but also a frequent scene of despair in a country with one of the world's highest suicide rates. The artificial intelligence-driven surveillance system alerts first responders if someone lingers in certain locations, enters an area deemed unsafe, or picks up one of the bridges' dedicated suicide-prevention phones. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP via Getty Images) / To go with 'Skorea-Japan-Social-Suicide-Technology-AI' by Claire LEE and Natsuko FUKUE

This photo taken on June 24, 2026 shows a general view of the city's skyline and Han river in Seoul. Seoul's Han River is a landmark of the glittering South Korean capital, but also a frequent scene of despair in a country with one of the world's highest suicide rates. The artificial intelligence-driven surveillance system alerts first responders if someone lingers in certain locations, enters an area deemed unsafe, or picks up one of the bridges' dedicated suicide-prevention phones. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP via Getty Images) / To go with 'Skorea-Japan-Social-Suicide-Technology-AI' by Claire LEE and Natsuko FUKUE

This photo taken on June 24, 2026 shows Kim Jun-young, chief of Hangang Bridge CCTV Integrated Control Center, introducing the AI surveillance cameras during an interview with AFP in the control room in Seoul. Seoul's Han River is a landmark of the glittering South Korean capital, but also a frequent scene of despair in a country with one of the world's highest suicide rates. The artificial intelligence-driven surveillance system alerts first responders if someone lingers in certain locations, enters an area deemed unsafe, or picks up one of the bridges' dedicated suicide-prevention phones. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP via Getty Images) / To go with 'Skorea-Japan-Social-Suicide-Technology-AI' by Claire LEE and Natsuko FUKUE

This photo taken on June 24, 2026 shows a man sitting along the Han River in Seoul. Seoul's Han River is a landmark of the glittering South Korean capital, but also a frequent scene of despair in a country with one of the world's highest suicide rates. The artificial intelligence-driven surveillance system alerts first responders if someone lingers in certain locations, enters an area deemed unsafe, or picks up one of the bridges' dedicated suicide-prevention phones. (Photo by Jade GAO / AFP via Getty Images) / To go with 'Skorea-Japan-Social-Suicide-Technology-AI' by Claire LEE and Natsuko FUKUE