similarly to Mira Ceti, it is a red giant that changes its brightness usually in the range of 6mag to 11.7mag in a period of 430 days. The total difference between the maximum and minimum corresponds to a brightness difference of 300x. It also has a long secondary cycle - every 40 years the star brightens up to 5.5mag. At the time of maximum brightness, it resembles a vivid red drop of blood in the dark sky and is visible to the naked eye. It is located near μ Lep (3.31mag). R Leporis is a giant star with a low surface temperature of about 2,700 K, with carbon molecules in its atmosphere that absorb short-wavelength radiation and an extensive dust cloud that surrounds it. All of this is the cause of the star's red color, which stands out especially during the period of its maximum brightness. The star is visible with a hand-held telescope, but a telescope is needed for clear color distinction.