Heart-Shaped Cloud Spotted Near Dying Star 300 Light Years Away Ahead Of Valentine’s Day

Just before Valentine’s Day, scientists have observed a rare and stunning cosmic phenomenon, a heart-shaped cloud near a star located about 300 light-years away from Earth as reported by News18 Hindi.

The formation has been detected near Mira A, a well-known star that recently expelled a massive amount of gas and dust into space. The ejected material spread out and formed a structure resembling a glowing heart. Researchers say the discovery is as surprising as it is exciting, as the scale and speed of the material released have challenged previous scientific assumptions.

Astronomers were astonished when they first observed the structure. Theo Khouri, the lead author of the study, explained that the star behaves like a lighthouse, illuminating

its surroundings unevenly and creating unique patterns in space.

Mira A is a red giant star in the final stage of its life cycle. As stars age, they begin shedding their outer layers. However, what happened in this case was far from typical.

Massive Stellar Outburst Surprises Scientists

According to researchers, Mira A released material equal to nearly seven times the mass of Earth into space — about 100 times more than scientists had expected. Normally, stars in this stage lose mass gradually over time. But Mira A appears to have experienced a sudden, explosive event, ejecting an enormous amount of matter in a short period.

The unusually large and rapid mass loss has left astronomers puzzled and eager to learn more.

How Did the ‘Heart’ Shape Form?

To study the structure in detail, scientists used Chile’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). They analysed observational data collected between 2015 and 2023.

The findings show that the centre of the structure is filled with gas, while dust has accumulated along the edges, creating a bright outline. This glowing border gives the cloud its distinct heart-like appearance. The formation was recorded in both radio frequencies and visible light.

What About Mira B?

Mira A is not alone — it has a companion star known as Mira B, a white dwarf. Scientists believe the expanding cloud from Mira A has grown large enough to potentially influence Mira B.

In fact, Mira B is already pulling in some of the material expelled by its larger companion. Researchers say the interaction between the two stars could become even more intriguing in the coming years.

Why Is This Discovery Important?

Such research helps scientists understand how dying stars contribute to the birth of new celestial bodies. The gas and dust released during these final stages often become the building blocks for new stars and planets.

The study led by Theo Khouri has been accepted for publication in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, marking an important step in understanding stellar evolution and the life cycle of stars.