Mid-Infrared Observations of the Mira Circumstellar Environment

This Letter presents results from high angular resolution mid-IR imaging of the Mira AB circumbinary environment using the Mid-InfraRed Array Camera MIRAC3 at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. We resolved the dusty circumstellar envelope at 9.8, 11.7, and 18 μm around Mira A (ο Ceti) and measured the size of the extended emission. Strong deviations from spherical symmetry are detected in the images of the Mira AB system, including possible dust clumps in the direction of the companion (Mira B). These observations suggest that Mira B plays an active role in shaping the morphology of the circumstellar environment of Mira A as it evolves toward the planetary nebula phase.