Mira B
Mira B, also known as VZ Ceti, is the companion star to the variable star Mira, separated by around 100 AU. Suspected as early as 1918, it was visually confirmed in 1923 by Robert Grant Aitken, and has been observed more or less continually since then, most recently by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.
The red giant star Mira (right), and its companion Mira B on the left. Taken on December 11, 1995 Credit: Hubble Space Telescope, using the Faint Object Camera | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cetus |
| Right ascension | 02h 19m 20.80s |
| Declination | −02° 58′ 40.0″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 9.5 - 12.0 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | DA |
| Astrometry | |
| Distance | approx. 300 ly (approx. 90 pc) |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Long known to be erratically variable itself, its fluctuations seem to be related to its accretion of matter from Mira's stellar wind, which makes it a symbiotic star.
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