- Gamma Centauri
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Gamma Centauri A/B Observation data
Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000Constellation Centaurus Right ascension 12h 41m 31.0s Declination −48° 57′ 35″ Apparent magnitude (V) +2.2 (+2.9/+2.9) Characteristics Spectral type A0III/A0III U−B color index −0.01 B−V color index −0.01 Variable type none Astrometry Radial velocity (Rv) −6 km/s Proper motion (μ) RA: −187.28 mas/yr
Dec.: −1.20 mas/yrParallax (π) 25.01 ± 1.01 mas Distance 130.4 ly
(40.0 pc)Absolute magnitude (MV) −0.8 (−0.1/−0.1) Details Mass 2.8 M☉ Radius 36.5 R☉ Luminosity 90/star L☉ Temperature 9,300 K Rotation ~81 km/s. Orbit Companion γ Centauri B Period (P) 84.5 yr Semimajor axis (a) 34AU=0.86" Eccentricity (e) 0.79 Inclination (i) 114° Longitude of the node (Ω) 2° Periastron epoch (T) 1931.2 Other designations Database references SIMBAD data Gamma Centauri (γ Cen, γ Centauri) is a star in the constellation Centaurus. It has the proper name Muhlifain,[1] not to be confused with Muliphein, which is γ Canis Majoris; both names derive from the same Arabic root.
Gamma Centauri is a double star approximately 130 light years from Earth, which consists of two spectral type A0 stars each of apparent magnitude +2.9. For the resolution of the double star system a telescope of at least 15 centimeters in aperture is necessary. They have an orbital period of 83 years.
Year Angular separation Position angle 1990 1.4″ 353° 2000 1.0″ 347° 2005 0.7″ 341° 2010 0.4″ 324° Etymology
In Chinese, 庫樓 (Kù Lóu), meaning Arsenal, refers to an asterism consisting of γ Centauri, ζ Centauri, η Centauri, θ Centauri, 2 Centauri, HD 117440, ξ1 Centauri, τ Centauri, D Centauri and σ Centauri.[2] Consequently, γ Centauri itself is known as 庫樓七 (Kù Lóu qī, English: the Seventh Star of Arsenal.)[3]
The people of Aranda and Luritja tribe around Hermannsburg, Central Australia named Iritjinga, "The Eagle-hawk", a quadrangular arrangement comprising this star, δ Cen (Ma Wei), δ Cru (Palida) and γ Cru (Gacrux), .[4]
References
- ^ Kunitzsch, P., Arabische Sternnamen in Europa, Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden, p.188.
- ^ (Chinese) 中國星座神話, written by 陳久金. Published by 台灣書房出版有限公司, 2005, ISBN 978-986-7332-25-7.
- ^ (Chinese) 香港太空館 - 研究資源 - 亮星中英對照表, Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.
- ^ p. 8, Explorers of the southern sky: a history of Australian astronomy, Raymond Haynes, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1996.
Stars of Centaurus Bayer Flamsteed Categories:- Multiple star stubs
- Centaurus constellation
- Bayer objects
- Binary stars
- A-type giants
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