The Recent Mass Loss History of the Hypergiant RW Cep

Abstract

Abstract In light of recent variability seen in RW Cep, we present an analysis of the spectral energy distribution of the star and unpublished, high spatial resolution mid-Infrared imaging. We derive a current mass-loss rate of ∼7 × 10−6  M ⊙ yr−1 for the star and clear evidence of a higher mass-loss rate phase ending no more than ∼100 yr ago.