Mira

Mira is a binary star system with a white dwarf (Mira B, also known as VZ Ceti) star and a red giant (Mira A). Scientists think Mira is 200-400 light years away in the constellation Cetus. Mira A is a variable star, changing its size and brightness. Other red giant stars that do the same are called Mira variables.

Mira changes brightness cyclically

This is a picture of Mira taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Size

Mira has a diameter 332^[1] to 541^[2] times that of our sun.

If Mira's size was constant, then its diameter would be only 240 times larger than the Sun.^[1]

Related pages

• R Leporis
• T Cephei
• Chi Cygni