Constellation Perseus | ||
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People also search for HD 20468, HD 21278, V718 Persei | ||
RS Persei is a red supergiant variable star located in the Double Cluster in Perseus. Its brightness varies from magnitude 7.82 to 10.0.
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Location
RS Persei is a member of the cluster NGC 884, χ Persei, one half of the famous Double Cluster.
Variability
RS Persei is classified as a semiregular variable star, with its brightness varying from magnitude 7.82 to 10.0 over 245 days, Detailed studies show that it also pulsates with a long secondary period of 4,200 ± 1500 days.
Properties
RS Persei is a large cool star, 3,500 K and over 700 R☉. This makes it luminous, although much of its radiation is emitted in the infrared. Across all wavelengths it is at least 70,000 times as luminous as the sun. It is surrounded by dust that has condensed from material lost by the star.
RS Persei has sometimes been considered to be a highly evolved low mass Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) star, but calculations of its current mass suggest that it is a low mass supergiant. NGC 244 is also too young to host AGB stars.