Mothra (also known as EMO J041608.838-240358.60) is a binary system with a possible transient, in the constellation of Eridanus. Mothra is in one of the strongly lensed galaxies behind the galaxy cluster MACS J0416.1−2403, nicknamed the "Christmas Tree Galaxy Cluster".
Location The Mothra system is located at redshift z = 2.091 or about 10.5 billion light years away, and is notable for being one of the most distant star systems ever discovered.
The Mothra system is also designated LS1 (lensed star 1). Mothra and its host galaxy are behind the galaxy cluster MACS J0416.1-2403. The extreme magnification of Mothra is believed to be produced by an undetected millilens in the galaxy cluster, possibly a small globular cluster or small clump of dark matter, and very close to the line of sight to Mothra. The mass of this millilens is constrained to be between and . This is among the smallest substructures detected at cosmological distances via gravitational lensing.
Physical properties Mothra consists of two supergiant stars, a yellow supergiant or a yellow hypergiant, and a blue supergiant. , the orbital characteristics of the Mothra system is unknown.
The primary component of the Mothra system is classified as a yellow supergiant or yellow hypergiant.
Mothra A has a size of , a luminosity of , a temperature of 5,250 K, and has an initial mass of .
The secondary component of the Mothra system is classified as a blue supergiant.
Mothra B has a size of , a luminosity of , and a temperature of 14,000 K.
The star was nicknamed Mothra by Spanish astrophysicist Jose Diego as a reference to its monstruous nature.
See also List of most distant stars
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Further reading