The Cepheid Star RS Pup (IMAGE)
Caption
The nebula around the Cepheid star RS Pup is large enough to determine the detection of possible variations in its intensity distribution due to the light variations of the star. This nebula undoubtedly holds a wealth of information about the mass-loss history of this star. It will thus be instrumental to understand the evolution of Cepheids. Less than five years away from the centenary of the discovery of the Period-Luminosity relation by Leavitt & Pickering, RS Pup could well become a 'Rosetta stone' for this important class of stars. This color composite image is based on observations made with the 3.6-m ESO New Technology Telescope installed at the La Silla Observatory (Chile) and equipped with the ESO Multi-Mode Instrument. The image is based on data obtained through B, V, and R-filters. In order to avoid a heavy saturation of the detector, RS Pup was positioned in the gap between the detectors.
Credit
ESO
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