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Foreseeing the Sun’s fate : Astronomical interferometry reveals the close environment of Mira stars

1er septembre 2004

The mean size of the observed Mira stars and their surrounding molecular layer is compared to the size of the inner Solar System. The Earth’s, Mars’ and Jupiter’s orbits are shown, as well as the Sun’s position. The picture illustrates that when the Sun becomes a Mira-type star in about 5 billion years, it will nearly reach Mars’ orbit and its surrounding molecular layer will extend far beyond Mars. Click on the image to enlarge it

Press release

Référence

  • ’’Unveiling Mira stars behind the molecules : Confirmation of the molecular layer model with narrow band near-infrared interferometry’’- by G. Perrin, S.T. Ridgway, B. Mennesson, W.D. Cotton, J. Woillez, T. Verhoelst, P. Schuller, V. Coudé du Foresto, W.A. Traub, R. Millan-Gabet, M.G. Lacasse To be published in Astronomy & Astrophysics

Contact

  • Guy Perrin
    Observatoire de Paris, LESIA
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