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RS Puppis Rotation Sequence
This movie shows the reflection nebula around the Cepheid variable RS Puppis at seven equally spaced intervals during its 41.4-day pulsation period. Each time RS Puppis reaches maximum brightness, it sends another wave of illumination into the surrounding dust. Thus a pattern of apparently expanding bull's-eyes surrounds the variable star, similar to the ripples in a pond produced when a series of stones is thrown into the water. These images were taken with Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys in a visual filter over the following dates in 2010: March 25 and 31, April 6, 11, 18, 24, and 29. Each individual image in this sequence had an exposure time of 23 minutes.
- Release DateDecember 17, 2013
- Science ReleaseHubble Watches Super Star Create Holiday Light Show
- CreditNASA, ESA, G. Bacon (STScI), the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-Hubble/Europe Collaboration, and H. Bond (STScI and Pennsylvania State University)
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Cepheid Variable Star RS Puppis
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RS Puppis Video Sequence (Annotated)
This movie shows the reflection nebula around the Cepheid variable RS Puppis at seven equally spaced intervals during its 41.4-day pulsation period. Each time RS Puppis reaches maximum brightness, it sends another wave of illumination into the surrounding dust. Thus a pattern of...
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Last Updated
Aug 17, 2025
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Media
Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
