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 M IRAC3 at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. We resolved the dusty circum stellar envelope at 9.8, 11.7, and 18 mum around Mira A (o Ceti) and measur ed the size of the extended emission. Strong deviations from spherical symm etry are detected in the images of the Mira AB system, including possible d ust clumps in the direction of the companion (Mira B). These observations s uggest that Mira B plays an active role in shaping the morphology of the ci rcumstellar environment of Mira A as it evolves toward the planetary nebula phase.