PHOTOGRAPH #224 · nebulae
Mu Cephe, The Garnet Star HIP 107259 and Surrounding Nebulosity
Randal Healey · Utahopia Observatory
The Garnet Star HD 206936, HIP 107259
Mu Cephei, referred to as the "garnet star" by Herschel in 1783, is thought to be the largest star visible to the naked eye. It is a red supergiant, spectral class M2 Ia, 15 times more massive than the Sun, but 1260-1650 times larger in diameter, and 2-4 billion times more voluminous than the Sun. If the star were placed into our Solar System its surface would extend between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn. The star is known to be a semi-regular variable with apparent magnitude range 3.4 - 5.1, and a period around 2.5 years. It completed hydrogen to helium fusion, and is presently fusing helium into carbon. In the relatively near future, when it has converted its elements into iron, nuclear fusion will stop, and the star will undergo gravitational collapse resulting in a massive supernova explosion. Depending on the method used, distance estimates for the Garnet Star vary widely between 1,200 and 32,000 LY.
Original description & acquisition details ↗Mu Cephei, referred to as the "garnet star" by Herschel in 1783, is thought to be the largest star visible to the naked eye. It is a red supergiant, spectral class M2 Ia, 15 times more massive than the Sun, but 1260-1650 times larger in diameter, and 2-4 billion times more voluminous than the Sun. If the star were placed into our Solar System its surface would extend between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn. The star is known to be a semi-regular variable with apparent magnitude range 3.4 - 5.1, and a period around 2.5 years. It completed hydrogen to helium fusion, and is presently fusing helium into carbon. In the relatively near future, when it has converted its elements into iron, nuclear fusion will stop, and the star will undergo gravitational collapse resulting in a massive supernova explosion. Depending on the method used, distance estimates for the Garnet Star vary widely between 1,200 and 32,000 LY.
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