Mira

Mira
Location of Mira (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Cetus
Right ascension 02h 19m 20.79210s
Declination −02° 58 39.4956
Apparent magnitude (V) 2.0 to 10.1
Characteristics
Spectral type M7 IIIe (M5e-M9e)
U−B color index +0.08
B−V color index +1.53
Variable type Mira
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+63.8 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +9.33 mas/yr
Dec.: −237.36 mas/yr
Parallax (π)10.91±1.22 mas
Distanceapprox. 300 ly
(approx. 90 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+0.99 (variable)
Orbit
Period (P)497.88 yr
Semi-major axis (a)0.8″
Eccentricity (e)0.16
Inclination (i)112°
Longitude of the node (Ω)138.8°
Periastron epoch (T)2285.75
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
258.3°
Details
Mass1.18 M
Radius332–402 R
Luminosity (bolometric)8,400–9,360 L
Temperature2,918–3,192 K
Age6 Gyr
Other designations
Stella Mira, Collum Ceti, Wonderful Star, ο Ceti, 68 Ceti, BD−03°353, HD 14386, HIP 10826, HR 681, LTT 1179, SAO 129825
Database references
SIMBADdata

Mira (/ˈmrə/), designation Omicron Ceti (ο Ceti, abbreviated Omicron Cet, ο Cet), is a red-giant star estimated to be 200–300 light-years from the Sun in the constellation Cetus.

ο Ceti is a binary stellar system, consisting of a variable red giant (Mira A) along with a white dwarf companion (Mira B). Mira A is a pulsating variable star and was the first non-supernova variable star discovered, with the possible exception of Algol. It is the prototype of the Mira variables.