This "once-in-a-lifetime" occurrence is expected on Monday and early Tuesday for observers in select parts of Central Asia, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, Miami (Florida), and Mexico, lasting 7 to 12 seconds.

The event will peak around 8:24 pm local time on December 11 in Florida, and around 2:15 am on December 12 in Cordoba, Spain. Betelgeuse, a red supergiant in Orion's constellation, is notable for ongoing changes in luminosity.

Though initially thought to be nearing explosion, more recent studies suggest otherwise. Scientists continue to explore its exact dimensions and attributes.

Such an asteroid-star crossing is exceptionally rare, offering insights into Betelgeuse's surrounding environment and the asteroid's characteristics. The Virtual Telescope Project in Italy, offering a live webcast, remarks that viewers will briefly miss Orion's "orange shoulder" as it may appear post-supernova.

Betelgeuse, significantly larger and brighter than the sun, would stretch beyond Jupiter if in the sun's place; however, its lifespan is shorter, given its rapid consumption of fuel. After dimming dramatically in 2019 due to a dust cloud, the star has since returned to its former brightness.