Mu

Its story

μ Cephei is the famous Garnet Star, so named by William Herschel in the 18th century for its deep red hue, akin to a precious stone. It is a colossal red supergiant —among the largest stars known in the Milky Way— and its brightness varies slowly over years, like a heartbeat in slow motion. Its glowing blush dominates the region of Cepheus and signals a stellar ending imminent on cosmic timescales.