NML Cygni facts for kids
NML Cygni is a super big red star, also known as V1489 Cygni. It is one of the largest stars we know of right now. Imagine our Sun; NML Cygni is about 1,650 times bigger! It's also one of the brightest supergiant stars.
This giant star is very, very far from Earth, about 5,300 light-years away. It is surrounded by a cloud of dust and has a bean-shaped cloud of gas called a nebula that contains water vapor. NML Cygni is also a variable star, which means its brightness changes a little over time, usually every 940 days.
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What is NML Cygni?
NML Cygni is a type of star called a red hypergiant. These stars are extremely large and bright. They are much bigger and brighter than our own Sun. NML Cygni is one of the most extreme examples of these giant stars.
Where is NML Cygni?
NML Cygni is part of a group of big, bright stars called the Cygnus OB2 association. This group is located in the Cygnus constellation. It is one of the closest groups of very massive stars to our Sun.
Discovery of NML Cygni
Scientists first found NML Cygni in 1965. It was discovered by three researchers named Neugebauer, Martz, and Leighton. The name "NML" comes from the first letters of their last names. It also has another name, V1489 Cygni. This name was given because its brightness changes slightly over time. These changes are caused by the star expanding and shrinking, and by it losing some of its outer layers.
The Star's Environment
Observations show that NML Cygni has two thick layers of dust and different molecules around it. This star is losing a lot of its material every year. It's like a giant star shedding its skin! These dusty layers are formed because the star is constantly sending out a lot of its mass. Even though it's so huge, NML Cygni doesn't control the space around it much. This is because of its special location in our galaxy, the Milky Way.
What is NML Cygni Made Of?
NML Cygni is a massive star that has a lot of oxygen. Scientists have also found many different types of molecules around it. These include water (H2O), silicon monoxide (SiO), and carbon monoxide (CO). Other molecules like hydrogen cyanide (HCN), carbon monosulfide (CS), sulfur monoxide (SO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are also present.
Images for kids
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A near infrared (3.5 micron) light curve for V1489 Cygni, showing how its brightness changed over time.
See also
In Spanish: NML Cygni para niños
