Mira
Mira (ο Ceti) is a red star in the constellation Cetus. With an apparent magnitude of 3.04 it is the 183rd-brightest star in the night sky, and it is about 300 light-years from Earth.
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Facts
| Constellation | Cetus |
|---|---|
| Designation | ο Ceti (Omicron Ceti), HR 681 |
| Apparent magnitude | 3.04 (183rd brightest) |
| Spectral type | M7IIIe+Bep |
| Color | red (B−V 1.42) |
| Distance | about 300 light-years |
| Right ascension | 2 h 19.3 min |
| Declination | −2.98° |
| Best month | December (at about 9 pm) |
How to find Mira
Mira is in Cetus. From 40° N it is highest in the south in December evenings, about 47° above the horizon. From 35° S it reaches about 58° in the north. Nearby bright stars: Menkar (13° away), Hamal (27° away) and Diphda (28° away).
Where on Earth can you see Mira?
Mira is best seen in the evening in December. The table shows, for different latitudes, whether it ever rises and how high it climbs when it crosses the meridian.
| Latitude | Visibility | Highest point |
|---|---|---|
| 60° N (Oslo, Helsinki) | Rises and sets | 27° (south) |
| 50° N (Frankfurt, Prague) | Rises and sets | 37° (south) |
| 40° N (New York, Madrid, Beijing) | Rises and sets | 47° (south) |
| 30° N (Cairo, New Orleans) | Rises and sets | 57° (south) |
| 20° N (Mexico City, Mumbai) | Rises and sets | 67° (south) |
| 0° (Quito, Nairobi) | Rises and sets | 87° (south) |
| 20° S (Rio de Janeiro area) | Rises and sets | 73° (north) |
| 35° S (Sydney, Buenos Aires) | Rises and sets | 58° (north) |
| 45° S (Dunedin, southern Patagonia) | Rises and sets | 48° (north) |
How far away is Mira?
Mira is about 300 light-years from Earth. The light you see tonight left the star around the year 1730. That is about 69 times farther than Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to the Sun.
What kind of star is Mira?
Mira has the spectral type M7IIIe+Bep. Stars of class M have surface temperatures of about 2,400 to 3,700 kelvin, which makes them look red.
Messier objects near Mira
Within 12° of Mira (about the width of a fist at arm's length) lie Messier 77 (M77) at 7°.
Questions about Mira
How far away is Mira?
About 300 light-years. The light we see today left it around the year 1730.
What color is Mira?
Mira looks red. Its spectral type is M7IIIe+Bep, which means a surface temperature of about 2,400 to 3,700 kelvin.
Can you see Mira from the Northern Hemisphere?
Yes. From 40° N it rises and sets; at its highest it stands 47° high in the south.
Can you see Mira from the Southern Hemisphere?
Yes. From 35° S it rises and sets; at its highest it stands 58° high in the north.
When is the best time to see Mira?
In the evening in December, when it is highest at about 9 pm. It is 3.04 magnitude, the 183rd-brightest star in the night sky.