Mira (Omicron Ceti)

Mira, also known as Omicron Ceti, is a famous variable star located about 400 light-years from Earth. It is a red giant star that regularly brightens and dims over roughly 11 months due to changes in its size and brightness. These pulsations occur because Mira's outer layers expand and contract, creating a rhythmic pattern. During its brightest phase, Mira becomes visible to the naked eye as a faint, slow-moving star in the constellation Cetus. Its variability has made it an important subject for understanding stellar evolution, especially in the late stages of a star’s life.