Beta Aurigae

Beta Aurigae
Beta Aurigae
Menkalinan.jpg
Beta Aurigae as seen in Celestia.
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Auriga
Right ascension 05h 59m 31.7s
Declination +44° 56′ 51″
Apparent magnitude (V) +1.896
Characteristics
Spectral type A2IV / A2IV / MV
U−B color index +0.05
B−V color index +0.03
R−I color index -0.01
Variable type Algol variable
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv) −18.2 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −56.41 mas/yr
Dec.: −0.88 mas/yr
Parallax (π) 39.72 ± 0.78 mas
Distance 82.1 ly
(25.2 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV) 0.55/0.76[1]
Details
Mass 2.38/2.31[2] M
Radius 2.77/2.63[2] R
Surface gravity (log g) 3.93/3.98[1]
Luminosity 48/48[3] L
Temperature 9,350/9,200[2] K
Metallicity 100%
Rotation 33/34[2] km/s
Age 5.7 × 108[2] years
Other designations
Menkalinan, 34 Aurigae, ADS 4556, BD +44°1328, CCDM 05596+4457, FK5 227, GC 7543, HD 40183, HIP 28360, HR 2088, NN 3375, SAO 40750.
Database references
SIMBAD data
Database references
SIMBAD data
Data sources:
Hipparcos Catalogue,
CCDM (2002),
Bright Star Catalogue (5th rev. ed.)

Beta Aurigae (β Aur, β Aurigae), traditionally named Menkalinan, is a white subgiant ternary star system approximately 85 light-years away in the constellation Auriga.

Contents

Nomenclature

Auriga Constellation

The name Menkalinan is shortened from the Arabic منكب ذي العنان mankib ðī-l-‘inān "shoulder of the rein-holder". It is known as 五車三 (the Third Star of the Five Chariots) in feudal Chinese astronomy.

System components

Beta Aurigae is actually a ternary (triple) star system, although the light that the star system releases forges the appearance of a single star in the night sky. The two brightest components, Beta Aurigae A and B, are both white subgiants falling under the A-type stellar classification; Beta Aurigae B is about the same mass and radius as A. A-type entities are hot stars that release a blue-white light; these two stars burn brighter and with more heat than the Sun, which is a G2-type subgiant star.

The third star, Beta Aurigae C, is a red dwarf star that is invisible to the naked eye. The C component is about 330 AU from the AB pair.

Variability

Beta Aurigae's primary and secondary stars constitute an eclipsing spectroscopic binary; the combined apparent magnitude varies over a period of 3.96004 days between +1.85 and +1.93, as every 47.5 hours one of the stars partially eclipses the other from Earth's perspective.

Beta Aurigae is believed to be a stream star member of the Ursa Major Moving Group.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Torres, G.; Andersen, J.; Giménez, A. (February 2010). "Accurate masses and radii of normal stars: modern results and applications". The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review 18 (1-2): 67–126. Bibcode 2010A&ARv..18...67T. doi:10.1007/s00159-009-0025-1. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Nordstrom, B.; Johansen, K. T.. "Radii and masses for beta Aurigae". Astronomy and Astrophysics 291 (3): 777–785. Bibcode 1994A&A...291..777N. 
  3. ^ Kaler, James B.. "MENKALINAN (Beta Aurigae)". University of Illinois. http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/menkalinan.html. Retrieved 2010-01-23. 

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Beta Aurigae — A / B / C (β Aur / β Aurigae) Données d observation (Époque J2000.0) Ascension droite 05h 59m 31.7s Déclinaison +44° 56′ 51″ Constellation Cocher Magnitude apparente …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Beta Aurigae — Menkalinan Menkalinan (arab.: „Schulter dessen, der die Zügel führt“) ist die Bezeichnung des Sterns β Aurigae (Beta Aurigae). Menkalinan ist ein Bedeckungsveränderlicher Stern vom Typ Algol, dessen Helligkeit mit einer Periode von 3,96004 Tagen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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  • Gamma Aurigae — Beta Tauri Beta Tauri Données d observation (Époque J2000.0) Ascension droite 05h 26m 17,5s Déclinaison +28° 36′ 27″ Constellation Taureau Magnitude apparente 1 …   Wikipédia en Français

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