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A BA supergiant (or BA-type supergiant) is a late B-type or early A-type supergiant. They are among the brightest in the visible light wavelengths and their brightness makes them an attractive standard candle if a means of determining a precise luminosity can be worked out. They are pulsating stars, basically, the Alpha Cygni variable stars. Their pulsating mechanism is of research interest. The kappa mechanism is considered likely.