Structure of the pulsating red giant S Ori (artist's impression)

Sketch of the structure of a pulsating red giant, as derived by the recent interferometric study on S Orionis. The environment around the parent star is made up by three main components : a molecular shell (inner red layer), a dust shell (outer red layer) and a maser shell (red and green speckles). Grains of aluminum oxide constitute most of the dust shell (observed in the infrared band), while the maser radio emission comes from silicon monoxide molecules. The maser spots velocities indicates that the gas is expanding, at a speed of about 10 km/s.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0725b
Type:Artwork
Release date:31 May 2007
Related releases:eso0725
Size:3491 x 3476 px

About the Object

Name:S Orionis
Type:Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Red Giant
Distance:1400 light years
Category:Illustrations
Stars

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