Radio Photosphere and Mass-Loss Envelope of VY CMa
  We have used the VLA to detect emission from the supergiant VY CMa at radio wavelengths and have constructed 3000-4500 K isothermal outer atmospheres constrained by the data. These models produce a radio photosphere at 1.5-2 R_ast. An extrapolation of the model can account for the observed total mass-loss rate of the star. We also present mid-infrared imaging of the supergiant that suggests warm dust is extended in the same direction as the near-infrared reflection nebula around VY CMa. The origin of the asymmetries in the outflow remains an unsolved problem. 
S.J. Lipscy (1 and 2), M. Jura (1), and M.J. Reid (3) ((1) UCLA, (2)   Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., (3) Harvard-Smit...