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R Doradus
R Doradus (HD 29712 or P Doradus) is a red giant variable star in the far-southern constellation Dorado, close to the border with Reticulum. Its distance from Earth is 178 light-years (55 parsecs). Having a uniform disk diameter of 57±5 mas, it is thought to be the extrasolar star with the largest apparent size as viewed from Earth.
The visible magnitude of R Doradus varies between 4.8 and 6.3, which means it is usually visible to the naked eye, but in the infrared it is one of the brightest stars in the sky. With a near-infrared J band magnitude of −2.65, only Betelgeuse and Antares at −2.9 and −2.73 (respectively) are brighter. In the infrared K band, it is sometimes the brightest star in the sky, although usually Betelgeuse is brighter.
It is classified as a semiregular variable star of type SRb, indicating giants with slow poorly defined variations, often alternating between periodic and irregular brightness changes. Some studies show it alternating between periods of about 175 and 332 days, and a period of 117.3 days has also been identified. It has been likened to a Mira variable when its variations are relatively regular, although its amplitude of only 1.5 magnitudes is smaller than Mira variables. The star was discovered to be variable in 1874 by Benjamin Gould, and received the variable-star designation R Doradus.
The angular diameter of R Doradus is easily measured using interferometry. Its uniform disc diameter, the diameter when interpreted as a disc of uniform brightness, when viewed at 1.25 μm is 57±5 mas. When viewed at 2.3 μm and interpreted as a limb-darkened disc, the diameter is 51.18±2.24 mas.
The angular diameter of R Doradus is larger than any other measured star other than the Sun. The angular diameter of the next-largest star, Betelgeuse, is around 45 mas.
The Hipparcos parallax of R Doradus is 18.31±0.99 mas, corresponding to a distance of 55±3 pc. The bolometric luminosity of R Doradus, derived from its bolometric flux at a distance of 55 pc, is 4,350±520 L☉. The measured angular diameter, again assuming a distance of 55 pc gives a radius of 298±21 R☉. The angular diameter and bolometric flux of R Doradus derive a cool surface effective temperature of 2,710±170 K.
Comparison of its properties with theoretical evolutionary tracks gives an age of between 6 and 14 billion years. R Doradus has lost part of its mass during its evolution, and currently has a mass of either 0.7 or 1.0 M☉. Its initial mass would be either 1 or 1.25 M☉. Because of the enlarged surface and low mass, R Doradus has a surface gravity of only 0.026% that of Earth. It is on the asymptotic giant branch having exhausted helium at its core.
The radius of 298 R☉ means that the diameter of R Doradus is 415 million km (2.77 AU). If placed at the centre of the Solar System, the perihelion of Mars would be within the star.
R Doradus
R Doradus (HD 29712 or P Doradus) is a red giant variable star in the far-southern constellation Dorado, close to the border with Reticulum. Its distance from Earth is 178 light-years (55 parsecs). Having a uniform disk diameter of 57±5 mas, it is thought to be the extrasolar star with the largest apparent size as viewed from Earth.
The visible magnitude of R Doradus varies between 4.8 and 6.3, which means it is usually visible to the naked eye, but in the infrared it is one of the brightest stars in the sky. With a near-infrared J band magnitude of −2.65, only Betelgeuse and Antares at −2.9 and −2.73 (respectively) are brighter. In the infrared K band, it is sometimes the brightest star in the sky, although usually Betelgeuse is brighter.
It is classified as a semiregular variable star of type SRb, indicating giants with slow poorly defined variations, often alternating between periodic and irregular brightness changes. Some studies show it alternating between periods of about 175 and 332 days, and a period of 117.3 days has also been identified. It has been likened to a Mira variable when its variations are relatively regular, although its amplitude of only 1.5 magnitudes is smaller than Mira variables. The star was discovered to be variable in 1874 by Benjamin Gould, and received the variable-star designation R Doradus.
The angular diameter of R Doradus is easily measured using interferometry. Its uniform disc diameter, the diameter when interpreted as a disc of uniform brightness, when viewed at 1.25 μm is 57±5 mas. When viewed at 2.3 μm and interpreted as a limb-darkened disc, the diameter is 51.18±2.24 mas.
The angular diameter of R Doradus is larger than any other measured star other than the Sun. The angular diameter of the next-largest star, Betelgeuse, is around 45 mas.
The Hipparcos parallax of R Doradus is 18.31±0.99 mas, corresponding to a distance of 55±3 pc. The bolometric luminosity of R Doradus, derived from its bolometric flux at a distance of 55 pc, is 4,350±520 L☉. The measured angular diameter, again assuming a distance of 55 pc gives a radius of 298±21 R☉. The angular diameter and bolometric flux of R Doradus derive a cool surface effective temperature of 2,710±170 K.
Comparison of its properties with theoretical evolutionary tracks gives an age of between 6 and 14 billion years. R Doradus has lost part of its mass during its evolution, and currently has a mass of either 0.7 or 1.0 M☉. Its initial mass would be either 1 or 1.25 M☉. Because of the enlarged surface and low mass, R Doradus has a surface gravity of only 0.026% that of Earth. It is on the asymptotic giant branch having exhausted helium at its core.
The radius of 298 R☉ means that the diameter of R Doradus is 415 million km (2.77 AU). If placed at the centre of the Solar System, the perihelion of Mars would be within the star.
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