A. Tej1, A. Lancon2 and M.
Scholz3
1Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai 400005,
India
2Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
67000
3Institut f. Theoretische Astrophysik der Universit at Heidelberg,
69121 Heidelberg, Germany,
and School of Physics, University of Sydney, NSW 2006,
Australia
Abstract. For stars with atmospheres as complex as those of Miras,
determination of fundamental stellar parameters remains a challenge.
Occurrence of
water "shells" and their implication on the interpretation of the
angular diameter measurements will be discussed in this talk. The role of a
spectrophotometric
index of water in estimating the continuum diameter will be
highlighted.
Keywords: Stars: fundamental parameters - Stars: late-type - Stars: variable: general - Stars: atmospheres