MIMOSA (Beta Crucis). Few are the first magnitude stars, as their apparent brightness requires either great luminosity, closeness, or both. Mimosa satisfies the first requirement.
The origin of its name, which comes from Latin and means “actor,” is not clear, but may derive from that of the beautiful southern-hemisphere flower.
Mimosa itself is clearly above the cutoff of 8 to 10 solar masses, beyond which stars explode as supernovae. It has perhaps only six or so million years left to go.
