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| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 |
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|---|---|
| Constellation | Puppis |
| Right ascension | 08h 13m 04s |
| Declination | −34° 34′ 42″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 7.0 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | F8Iab |
| Variable type | Cepheid Variable |
| Astrometry | |
| Distance | >6500 ly |
| Details | |
| Mass | 10 M☉ |
| Radius | 200 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 15,000 L☉ |
RS Puppis (or RS Pup) is a Cepheid variable star in the constellation of Puppis.
Because it is located in a large nebula, astronomers using the ESO's New Technology Telescope at La Silla Observatory, Chile have been able to measure its distance by strictly geometric analysis of light echos from particles in the nebula, determining it to be 6500 ± 90 light years from Earth, the most accurate measurement achieved for any Cepheid as of early 2008. The accuracy of the new measurement is important because Cepheids serve as a marker for distances (standard candle) within our galaxy and for nearby galaxies.[1][2][3]