Model Image of Cepheid L Carinae
Two model images of the Cepheid star L Carinae as deduced from the interferometric observations: in the near-infrared from VINCI measurements (left) and in the mid-infrared from MIDI (right). In both cases, an envelope is found to surround the star. The contribution from the envelope is about 5% in the near-infrared and significantly more in the thermal infrared. As L Carinae is 17,000 times brighter than the Sun, this means that its envelope alone is several hundred times brighter than our Sun!
Credit:
ESO
About the Image
| Id: | eso0609a |
| Type: | Collage |
| Release date: | 28 February 2006 |
| Related releases: | eso0609 |
| Size: | 1544 x 762 px |
About the Object
| Name: | L Carinae |
| Type: | • Milky Way : Star : Type : Variable • Milky Way : Star : Type : Variable : Pulsating • X - Stars |
| Distance: | 2000 light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
| Infrared N |
Very Large Telescope MIDI |
| Infrared K |
Very Large Telescope VINCI |
Notes: The K-band data refers to the left image, and N-band to the right.

