Ross 248 facts for kids
Ross 248 (also known as HH Andromedae) is a small star located about 10.30 light-years (3.16 parsecs) away from Earth. It is found in the direction of the Andromeda constellation, which is in the northern sky. Even though it's one of the closest stars to us, you can't see Ross 248 without a telescope because it's very dim. An astronomer named Frank Elmore Ross first discovered and listed this star in 1926.
What is Ross 248?
Ross 248 is a type of star known as a red dwarf. Red dwarfs are the smallest and coolest kind of stars that burn hydrogen in their cores. They are much smaller than our Sun and shine with a faint, reddish light. Because they burn their fuel very slowly, red dwarfs can live for trillions of years, much longer than larger stars.
A Star That Changes Brightness
Ross 248 is also a special kind of star called a variable star. This means its brightness changes over time. Specifically, it's a UV Ceti-type variable star. These stars can suddenly become much brighter for a short period, like a flare, before returning to their normal brightness. Scientists study these flares to learn more about how stars work.
Images for kids
-
Artist's concept of a hypothetical exoplanet, exomoon and comet orbiting Ross 248
See also
In Spanish: Ross 248 para niños
