Episodic Gaseous Outflows and Mass Loss from Red Supergiants

The red hypergiant VY CMa and the more typical supergiant Betelgeuse provide clear observational evidence for discrete, directed gaseous outflows in their optical infrared imaging, spectra, light curves. In very luminous CMa, mass loss estimates from bright knots clumps, not only dominate its measured overall loss, but explain it. lower luminosity Betelgeuse, similar of circumstellar condensations show that they contribute significantly to rate. We present new measurements both stars discuss additional ejections other supergiants. Gaseous are dominant mechanism most RSGs an important contributor supergiants like Betelgeuse. conclude outflows, related magnetic fields surface activity, comparable coronal ejections, a major missing component discussions mechanism.