Spectroscopic study of five pulsating Mira stars and their chemical signatures

Star system: SU Camelopardalis | Distance from the Sun: 3389 light years

This study examines the atmospheric behavior and chemical composition of five well-known Mira-type variable stars: RY Cep, SU Cam, T Cep, V667 Cas, and OR Cep. 

These aging stars undergo dramatic pulsations that create powerful shockwaves in their atmospheres, leading to the appearance of specific emission lines in their light spectra. By analyzing these spectroscopic changes, the research explains how the balance between carbon and oxygen determines a star's classification and tracks how their brightness and spectral features evolve throughout their pulsation cycles. This provides a detailed look at the final life stages of stars similar in mass to our Sun as they expand and shed material into space.

Scientific study

Spectroscopic study of five Mira stars (external link)