Spectroscopic observations of the M supergiant star Betelgeuse were taken a
t the Elginfield Observatory over 17 months in the 1999-2000 observing seas
ons in order to search for giant convection cells. Although the photospheri
c spectral lines show some temporal variations, mainly in their depths (con
sistent with a previously study), the Doppler shift distribution inferred f
rom them is remarkably stable. The spectral lines show characteristic macro
turbulence dispersion similar to 15 km s(-1) and cover a full span of +/-50
-60 km s(-1). The widths of the lines show occasional as well as longer ter
m changes of a few percent but no evidence for giant convection cells. Thes
e spectroscopic observations are more consistent with a classical picture o
f nonthermal photospheric velocities in which large numbers of convection c
ells appear on the stellar disk at all times.