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Beta Aurigae
Binary star system in the northern constellation of Auriga / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Beta Aurigae (Latinized from β Aurigae, abbreviated Beta Aur, β Aur), officially named Menkalinan /mɛŋˈkælɪnæn/,[10][11] is a binary star[12] system in the northern constellation of Auriga. The combined apparent visual magnitude of the system is 1.9,[4] making it the second-brightest member of the constellation after Capella. Using the parallax measurements made during the Hipparcos mission, the distance to this star system can be estimated as 81.1 light-years (24.9 parsecs), give or take a half-light-year margin of error.[1]
Quick Facts Constellation, Right ascension ...
Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Auriga |
Right ascension | 05h 59m 31.72293s[1] |
Declination | +44° 56′ 50.7573″[1] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 1.89 - 1.98[2] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | A1m IV + A1m IV[3] |
U−B color index | +0.05[4] |
B−V color index | +0.03[4] |
R−I color index | –0.01 |
Variable type | Algol variable[2] |
Astrometry | |
Radial velocity (Rv) | –18.2[5] km/s |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: –56.44[1] mas/yr Dec.: –0.95[1] mas/yr |
Parallax (π) | 40.21 ± 0.23 mas[1] |
Distance | 81.1 ± 0.5 ly (24.9 ± 0.1 pc) |
Absolute magnitude (MV) | 0.55/0.76[6] |
Orbit[7] | |
Period (P) | 3.96004 days |
Eccentricity (e) | 0.0 |
Inclination (i) | 76.0 ± 0.4° |
Periastron epoch (T) | 54539.0162 ± 0.0003 reduced HJD |
Semi-amplitude (K1) (primary) | 108.053 ± 0.072 km/s |
Semi-amplitude (K2) (secondary) | 110.911 ± 0.071 km/s |
Details | |
β Aur Aa | |
Mass | 2.389 ± 0.013[7] M☉ |
Radius | 2.77[8] R☉ |
Luminosity | 55[8] L☉ |
Surface gravity (log g) | 3.93[6] cgs |
Temperature | 9,350[8] K |
Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 33[8] km/s |
Age | 570[8] Myr |
β Aur Ab | |
Mass | 2.327 ± 0.013[7] M☉ |
Radius | 2.63[8] R☉ |
Luminosity | 47[8] L☉ |
Temperature | 9,200[8] K |
Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 34[8] km/s |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
Close
Along their respective orbits around the Milky Way, Beta Aurigae and the Sun are closing in on each other, so that in around one million years it will become the brightest star in the night sky.[13]