46 Leonis Minoris

46 Leonis Minoris (abbreviated 46 LMi), also named Praecipua /prɪˈsɪpjʊə/,^[11] is the brightest star in the constellation of Leo Minor. It is of spectral class K0+III-IV and of magnitude 3.83. It is a red clump giant.^[4] Based upon parallax measurements, its distance from the Sun is approximately 99.1 light-years.^[6] It is a suspected variable with an amplitude of about 0.05 magnitudes.^[3]

46 Leonis Minoris

Location of 46 Leonis Minoris (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Leo Minor
Right ascension	10h 53m 18.70487s[1]
Declination	+34° 12′ 53.5375″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)	3.83[2] (3.79–3.84[3])
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage	red clump[4]
Spectral type	K0+ III-IV[5]
Variable type	suspected[3]
Astrometry
Proper motion (μ)	RA: +90.625 mas/yr[6] Dec.: −278.64 mas/yr[6]
Parallax (π)	32.921 ± 0.1775 mas[6]
Distance	99.1 ± 0.5 ly (30.4 ± 0.2 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	+1.45[7]
Details[8]
Mass	1.09±0.04 M☉
Radius	8.21±0.06[9] R☉
Luminosity	27.42±1.38 L☉
Surface gravity (log g)	2.674±0.013 cgs
Temperature	4,670[2] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]	−0.1 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)	1.81[10] km/s
Age	8.2±1.9 Gyr
Other designations
Praecipua, 46 LMi, BD+34 2172, FK5 412, HD 94264, HIP 53229, HR 4247, SAO 62297
Database references
SIMBAD	data

Nomenclature

46 Leonis Minoris is the star's Flamsteed designation. It is sometimes designated "o LMi" (not "ο LMi"), from Bode's catalogue of 1801. It was presumably intended to be designated α, as Francis Baily decided to letter each star brighter than magnitude 4.5, but the designation was missing from his catalogue, even though the dimmer β was included.^[12]

It bore the traditional proper name Praecipua, derived from the Latin for "the Chief (Star of Leo Minor)".^[13] The name may originally have referred to 37 Leonis Minoris, and later mistakenly transferred to this star.^[14] In 2016, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)^[15] to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN approved the name Praecipua for this star on 30 June 2017 and it is now so included in the List of IAU-approved Star Names.^[11]

It is known as 勢四, "the Fourth (Star) of the Eunuch", in traditional Chinese astronomy.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Chinese star names

References

1. van Leeuwen, F. (November 2007), "Validation of the new Hipparcos reduction", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 474 (2): 653–664, arXiv:0708.1752, Bibcode:2007A&A...474..653V, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078357, S2CID 18759600
2. Piau, L.; et al. (February 2011), "Surface convection and red-giant radius measurements", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 526: A100, arXiv:1010.3649, Bibcode:2011A&A...526A.100P, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201014442, S2CID 118533297
3. Samus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007–2013)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S. 1. Bibcode:2009yCat....102025S.
4. Soubiran, C.; Bienaymé, O.; Mishenina, T. V.; Kovtyukh, V. V. (2008). "Vertical distribution of Galactic disk stars. IV. AMR and AVR from clump giants". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 480 (1): 91–101. arXiv:0712.1370. Bibcode:2008A&A...480...91S. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078788. S2CID 16602121.
5. Keenan, Philip C.; McNeil, Raymond C. (1989). "The Perkins catalog of revised MK types for the cooler stars". Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 71: 245. Bibcode:1989ApJS...71..245K. doi:10.1086/191373.
6. Vallenari, A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (2023). "Gaia Data Release 3. Summary of the content and survey properties". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 674: A1. arXiv:2208.00211. Bibcode:2023A&A...674A...1G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202243940. S2CID 244398875. Gaia DR3 record for this source at VizieR.
7. Mullan, D. J.; MacDonald, J. (2003). "Onset of Mass Loss in Red Giants: Association with an Evolutionary Event". The Astrophysical Journal. 591 (2): 1203. Bibcode:2003ApJ...591.1203M. doi:10.1086/375446.
8. Frandsen, S.; Andersen, M. Fredslund; Brogaard, K.; Jiang, C.; Arentoft, T.; Grundahl, F.; Kjeldsen, H.; Christensen-Dalsgaard, J.; Weiss, E.; Pallé, P.; Antoci, V.; Kjærgaard, P.; Sørensen, A. N.; Skottfelt, J.; Jørgensen, U. G. (2018-05-01). "The mass and age of the first SONG target: the red giant 46 LMi". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 613: A53. arXiv:1806.02095. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201730816. ISSN 0004-6361.
9. Baines, Ellyn K.; et al. (2018), "Fundamental Parameters of 87 Stars from the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer", The Astronomical Journal, 155 (1), 30, arXiv:1712.08109, Bibcode:2018AJ....155...30B, doi:10.3847/1538-3881/aa9d8b, S2CID 119427037.
10. Hekker, S.; Meléndez, J. (2007). "Precise radial velocities of giant stars. III. Spectroscopic stellar parameters". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 475 (3): 1003. arXiv:0709.1145. Bibcode:2007A&A...475.1003H. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078233. S2CID 10436552.
11. "Naming Stars". IAU.org. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
12. Wagman, Morton (2003). Lost Stars. Blacksburg, Virginia: McDonald and Woodward. ISBN 0-939923-78-5.
13. Allen, R. H. (1963). Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning (Reprint ed.). New York, NY: Dover Publications Inc. p. 264. ISBN 0-486-21079-0.
14. Leo Minor: The little lion- Ian Ridpath's Star Tales
15. "IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)". Retrieved 22 May 2016.