Mothra (star)

Mothra, or EMO J041608.838-240358.60, is a binary system with a possible transient, in the constellation of Eridanus. Mothra is in one of the strongly lensed galaxies behind the galaxy cluster MACS J0416.1-2403, nicknamed the "Christmas Tree Galaxy Cluster".

Location

The Mothra system is located at redshift z = 2.091 or about 10.5 billion light years away, and is notable for being one of the most distant star systems ever discovered.
The Mothra system is located in is LS1. LS1 is believed to be and is classified as a dwarf galaxy or globular cluster.
LS1 and the Mothra system are behind the galaxy cluster MACS J0416.1-2403, and they used to same galaxy cluster as a gravitational lens to discover LS1 and Mothra.

Mothra consists of two supergiant stars, a yellow supergiant or a yellow hypergiant, and a blue supergiant. As of 2025, the orbital characteristics of the Mothra system is unknown.
The primary component of the Mothra system is classified as a yellow supergiant or yellow hypergiant.
Mothra A has a size of, a luminosity of, a temperature of 5,250 K, and has an initial mass of.
The secondary component of the Mothra system is classified as a blue supergiant.
Mothra B has a size of, a luminosity of, and a temperature of 14,000 K.