Resolving Mira
Explanation:
Most stars appear only as points of light. Early last year,
Betelgeuse became the second star,
after our
Sun,
to have it surface resolved.
Later last year,
Mira was added
to the list. Mira A is a
red
giant star undergoing dramatic pulsations, causing it to become more than
100 times brighter over the course of a year.
Mira
was discovered to be the first variable star 401 years ago today
by David Fabricus.
Mira can extend to over 700 times the size of our Sun,
and is only 400 light-years away. The
above photograph
taken by the
Hubble Space Telescope
shows the true face of Mira. But what are we seeing?
The unusual extended feature off the lower left of the star
remains somewhat mysterious.
Possible
explanations include gravitational perturbation and/or heating
from Mira's
white dwarf star companion
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
