The biggest star in the sky
This is an IR Observation of R Doradus, a variable star in the constellation of Dorado (the Swordfish), located in the far southern sky. R Doradus is a variable star with a period of about 338 days, changing its magnitude from approximately 4.8 at maximum (when it is visible with the unaided eye) to 6.6 at minimum (when it requires a small telescope). R Doradus is approximately 200 light-years away.
The measured size implies that it has a physical diameter of 370 +- 50 times that of the Sun, or well over 250 million km! If R Doradus would be placed at the centre of the Solar System, its surface would be outside of the orbit of Mars. Although even bigger stars are known — Betelgeuse for one — none appears as large in the sky because they are all at greater distances. The very large apparent size of R Doradus is due to the combination of its relative proximity and large physical size.
Créditos:ESO
Sobre a imagem
Id: | eso9706a |
Tipo: | Observação |
Data de divulgação: | 11 de Março de 1997 |
Notícias relacionadas: | eso9706 |
Tamanho: | 1151 x 605 px |
Sobre o objeto
Nome: | Gamma Reticulli, R Doradus |
Tipo: | Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Red Giant Milky Way : Star : Type : Variable |
Categoria: | Stars |
Papéis de parede
Cores e filtros
Banda | Comprimento de onda | Telescópio |
---|---|---|
Infravermelho Near-IR | 1.25 μm | New Technology Telescope |