Beteigeuze vs Mira

Property Beteigeuze Mira
Bezeichnung 58Alp Ori 68Omi Cet
Sternbild Orion N/A
Spektralklasse Class M — M-type (Red) Class M — M-type (Red)
Scheinbare Helligkeit +0.45 +6.47
Absolute Helligkeit -5.47 1.66
Entfernung 498 ly 299 ly
Masse N/A N/A
Radius N/A N/A
Temperatur N/A N/A
Leuchtkraft N/A N/A

Key Differences

  • Both are famous variable red giants/supergiants of spectral type M, but at very different evolutionary stages.
  • Mira is a low-mass AGB star on its final evolutionary phase before becoming a planetary nebula; Betelgeuse is a massive red supergiant heading for a supernova.
  • Mira has a pulsation period of ~332 days with an enormous magnitude range; Betelgeuse shows semi-regular variability.
  • Betelgeuse is vastly larger at ~887 R☉ versus Mira's ~332 R☉.
  • Mira has a remarkable 13-light-year tail of shed material trailing behind it through the interstellar medium.

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