R Centauri
R Centauri is a Mira variable star in the constellation Centaurus. It is approximately 1,300 light years from Earth.
R Centauri is a Mira variable and its brightness varies from magnitude +5.2 to +11.5 with a period of about 500 days. It used to have an unusual double-peaked light curve, but by 2001 this had reverted to an almost normal single-peaked curve. Prior to 1950 the period was about 550 days, but since then has decreased to about 500 days. A 2016 analysis of ASAS data derived a period of 498.84 days.
It is thought that the unusual behaviour of R Centauri is caused by a flash in the helium shell around its core, which occurs periodically in asymptotic giant branch stars as the mass of the helium shell increases with helium from the outer hydrogen shell.
It is also an H2O maser source.
