We have obtained 11.7 { \mu } m and 17.9 { \mu } m images at the Keck I telescope of the circumstellar dust emission from L _ { 2 } Pup , one of the nearest ( D = 61 pc ) mass-losing , pulsating , red giants that has a substantial infrared excess .
We propose that the star is losing mass at a rate of { \sim } 3 { \times } 10 ^ { -7 } M _ { \odot } yr ^ { -1 } .
Given its relatively low luminosity ( { \sim } 1500 L _ { \odot } ) , relatively high effective temperature ( near 3400 K ) , relatively short period ( { \sim } 140 days ) , and the inferred gas outflow speed of 3.5 km s ^ { -1 } , standard models for dust-driven mass loss do not apply .
Instead , the wind may be driven by the stellar pulsations with radiation pressure on dust being relatively unimportant , as described in some recent calculations .
L _ { 2 } Pup may serve as the prototype of this phase of stellar evolution where it could lose { \sim } 15 % of its initial main sequence mass .