Merope Star 3D model

DescriptionMerope designated 23 Tauri (abbreviated 23 Tau), is a star in the constellation of Taurus and a member of the Pleiades star cluster. It is approximately 440 light-years (135 pc) away.Merope is a blue-white B-type subgiant with a mean apparent magnitude of +4.18. Richard Hinckley Allen described the star as lucid white and violet. It has a luminosity of 927 times that of the Sun and a surface temperature of 14,550 K. Merope's mass is roughly 4.25 MO and has a radius 4.8 times as great as the Sun's. Merope is classified as a Beta Cephei variable, a type of hot variable star which pulsates regularly due to opacity changes in its atmosphere. Its brightness varies by up to 0.01 magnitudes during each pulsation cycle. It is given the variable star designation of V971 Tauri. The period of variability is stable at 0.49 days, although the amplitude of the brightness changes on each cycle varies. Some papers have reported a companion star to Merope, at a separation of 250 mas, as well as several other visual companions farther out. These possible companions have not been confirmed. Surrounding Merope is the Merope Nebula (NGC 1435). It appears brightest around Merope and is listed in the Index Catalogue as number IC 349.

Texture Resolution: 4877 x 3515