Mira Variables - Astrophotography and Spectroscopy

Astro-Imaging and Spectroscopy

Star Party  St Michel  Haute Provence (France)

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Mira variables,
named for the prototype star Mira, are a class of pulsating variable stars characterized by very red colours, pulsation periods  between 100 - 600 days, and amplitudes greater than one magnitude in infrared
and 2.5 magnitude at visual wavelengths. They are red giants in the very late stages of stellar evolution, on the asymptotic giant branch. Mira variables can be of any spectra class M, N (late C) or S usually with emission lines present. The subtype class varies over a few tenths from M5 to M9 during the oscillation period.
Some Mira variables (Mira, R Aquarii) are also symbiotic systems

Light curve of Mira from AAVSO.org
Size comperation red giant and the sun




R Cyg
  • 2018-08-16
  • Alpy600
  • 8" f/4 Newton
  • Site: Berlin, Germany
  • Remark: Strong H-alpha emmsion line
T Cep
  • 2019-07-02
  • Alpy600
  • 8" f/4 Newton
  • Atik 414
  • Site: Berlin, Germany
T Cep
  • 2018-07-02
  • L200 Spectrograph 1800 grating 29µm slit
  • C11
  • ASI1600 MM 2x2 bin
  • Site: Berlin, Germany
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Copyright  Matthias Kiehl

March 2024
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