The angular diameter of R Doradus: a nearby Mira-like star

Abstract
We find the angular diameter of R Doradus to be 57 ± 5 mas, exceeding that of Betelgeuse and implying that R Dor is larger in apparent size than every star except the Sun. R Dor is shown to be closely related to the Mira variables. We estimate an effective temperature of 2740 ±190 K, a distance of 61 ± 7 pc, a luminosity of 6500 ±1400 L and a radius of 370 ± 50 R. The characteristics of R Dor are consistent with it being near the edge of a Mira instability strip. We detect non-zero closure phases from R Dor, indicating an asymmetric brightness distribution. We also observed W Hydrae, a small-amplitude Mira, for which we find an angular diameter of 44 ± 4 mas.
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