FO Aquarii
Star in the constellation Aquarius / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
FO Aquarii is an intermediate polar[4] star system in the constellation Aquarius. The white dwarf and companion star orbit each other with a period of approximately 4.85 hours.[5] The system is famous for a very strong optical pulsation which occurs every 20.9 minutes, corresponding with the rotational period of the accreting white dwarf.[6] Prior to 2016, the system's long-term optical brightness varied between apparent magnitude 12.7 and 14.2,[7] but in early 2016, it faded to magnitude 15.8 and thereafter began a slow recovery to its normal brightness, behavior which is indicative of a temporary dropoff in the mass-transfer rate between the two stars.[8]
Quick Facts Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000, Constellation ...
The visual band light curve of FO Aquarii. The main plot shows the dimming which occurred in 2016, and the inset plot shows the short-term variation that occurs during an orbital period. Adapted from Littlefield et al. (2016)[1] | |
Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Aquarius |
Right ascension | 22h 17m 55.38s[2] |
Declination | −08° 21′ 04.6″[2] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 12.7[3] |
Characteristics | |
Apparent magnitude (B) | 13.70[2] |
Apparent magnitude (R) | 13.60[2] |
Apparent magnitude (J) | 12.87[2] |
Apparent magnitude (H) | 12.75[2] |
Apparent magnitude (K) | 12.51[2] |
Variable type | DQ[4] |
Orbit | |
Period (P) | 4.85 hr[5] |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
Data sources: | |
Hipparcos Catalogue, CCDM (2002), Bright Star Catalogue (5th rev. ed.) |
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