Variable Star RS Puppis | Hubble Space Telescope

Variable Star RS Puppis | Hubble Space Telescope

This Hubble image shows RS Puppis, a type of variable star known as a Cepheid variable. As variable stars go, Cepheids have comparatively long periods—RS Puppis, for example, varies in brightness by almost a factor of five every 40 or so days.

Distance: 6,500 light years

RS Puppis is unusual. This variable star is shrouded by thick, dark clouds of dust enabling a phenomenon known as a light echo to be shown with stunning clarity.

These Hubble observations show the ethereal object embedded in its dusty environment, set against a dark sky filled with background galaxies.

Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-Hubble/Europe Collaboration

Acknowledgment: H. Bond (STScI and Penn State University)

Release Date: Dec. 17, 2013

#NASA #ESA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Hubble #Nebulae #Stars #Star #CepheidVariableStar #LightEcho #Dust #Nebula #Puppis #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #HST #SpaceTelescope #STScI #GSFC #UnitedStates #Europe #STEM #Education