Two Centuries of a Pulsating Giant: How R Leonis Changed Its Rhythm and Dusty Veil

This paper shows that the variable star R Leonis has changed measurably over the past two centuries. Its pulsation period has slowly shortened, and the depths of its dimmest phases show strong long-term patterns rather than random variation. These trends are best explained by gradual changes in the star’s surrounding dust, revealing that even regular variable stars evolve on human timescales.