R Leporis facts for kids
R Leporis, also called Hind's Crimson Star, is a giant star found in the Lepus constellation. This constellation is also known as the Hare. R Leporis is a type of star called a red giant, and it's mostly made of carbon. It is much, much bigger than our own Sun.
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R Leporis: The Crimson Star
R Leporis gets its nickname, "Hind's Crimson Star," from the astronomer James Hind who studied it. It's famous for its deep red color, which is why it's called "crimson." This star is so red that you might even be able to see its color with binoculars!
What is a Red Giant?
A red giant is a very large star that is nearing the end of its life. Stars like our Sun will eventually become red giants. They expand greatly and cool down, which makes them look red. R Leporis is a special kind of red giant called a carbon star. This means it has a lot of carbon in its outer layers. This carbon makes the star look even redder than other red giants.
How Big is R Leporis?
This star is truly enormous! R Leporis is between 400 and 535 times larger than our Sun. Imagine how big that is! If R Leporis were in the center of our solar system, it would stretch out past the orbit of Mars, or even Jupiter, depending on its exact size.
Where Can You Find It?
You can find R Leporis in the Lepus constellation. Lepus is a small constellation that looks like a hare. It is located just south of the famous constellation Orion, the Hunter. You might need binoculars or a small telescope to see R Leporis clearly and appreciate its crimson color.
Images for kids
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An image of the carbon star R Leporis as seen in binoculars. R Leporis is the red star right of centre. The bright star in the lower left corner is Mu Leporis.
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The light curve of R Leporis from AAVSO V band data
See also
In Spanish: R Leporis para niños
