Eta Orionis

Star in the constellation Orion From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eta Orionis

Eta Orionis or Algjebbah,[citation needed] Latinized from η Orionis, is a multiple star in the constellation Orion. It lies a little to the west of Orion's Belt between Delta Orionis and Rigel, being closer to Delta Orionis than to Rigel. It lies at a distance of around 1,000 light-years from Earth and is part of the Orion OB1 association.

Quick Facts Constellation, Right ascension ...
η Orionis
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Location of η Orionis (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Orion
Right ascension 05h 24m 28.61672s[1]
Declination −02° 23 49.7311[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 3.42[2] (4.50 + 5.90 + 5.65 + 4.95)[3]
Characteristics
Spectral type Aa: B1 V
Ab: B3 V
Ac: B3 V
B: B2 V[3]
U−B color index −0.90[2]
B−V color index −0.17[2]
Variable type Algol[4]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+19.8[5] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −0.71[1] mas/yr
Dec.: −3.46[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)3.34±1.07 mas[1]
Distanceapprox. 1,000 ly
(approx. 300 pc)
Orbit
PrimaryAa
CompanionAb
Period (P)7.98763(22)[6] days
Eccentricity (e)0.0095±0.0010[6]
Inclination (i)87.62±0.42[6]°
Argument of periastron (ω)
(primary)
164±18[6]°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
145.5±0.03[7] km/s
Semi-amplitude (K2)
(secondary)
150±3[7] km/s
Orbit[3]
CompanionAc
Period (P)9.442±0.012 yr
Semi-major axis (a)0.0441±0.0015
Eccentricity (e)0.45±0.02
Inclination (i)102.8±1.8°
Details
η Ori Aa
Mass10.87±0.44[6] M
Radius6.477±0.073[6] R
Surface gravity (log g)3.851±0.010[6] cgs
Temperature26,600[7] K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)20[7] km/s
η Ori Ab
Mass10.54±0.22[6] M
Radius4.79±0.10[6] R
Surface gravity (log g)4.100±0.016[6] cgs
Temperature25,950[6] K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)130[7] km/s
η Ori Ac
Mass6.78[8] M
η Ori B
Mass8.7[8] M
Other designations
η Ori, 28 Orionis, BD−02°1235, HD 35411, HIP 25281, HR 1788, SAO 132071[9]
Database references
SIMBADdata
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System

Eta Orionis is listed in multiple star catalogues as having two companions: a bright component B less than 2″ away; and a faint component C nearly 2′ away.[10] The two are estimated to orbit every 1,800 years.[8]

The primary star, Eta Orionis A, is itself a spectroscopic triple star, known from multiple spectral lines with varying radial velocities.[7] The most distant component Ac, has been resolved using speckle interferometry, at a separation of about 0.04″. It orbits the other two in 9.4 years.[3] The two closest stars, Aa and Ab, are separated by only about a tenth of an astronomical unit and orbit in just under eight days.[7]

The system lies within the Orion OB1 association, a group of massive stars that includes most of the bright stars of Orion.[11] It is assigned to the oldest and closest part of the association, known as OB1a.[12]

Variability

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A light curve for Eta Orionis, plotted from TESS data,[13] showing both eclipses and the 0.432 day variability.

Eta Orionis drops in brightness every four days from a combined apparent magnitude of 3.31 to about magnitude 3.6. This is due to eclipses between the two closest components, Aa and Ab.[4] The primary and secondary eclipses are very similar, 0.24 and 0.23 magnitudes deep, respectively.[14]

It has also been suggested that component Ab is intrinsically variable with a period of 0.3 days and a very small amplitude. This star has unusual variable spectral lines and lies with the β Cephei variable instability strip.[7] However, it is now thought that the variable component is either B and Ac, possibly due to an unseen companion or rotational modulation. The actual period is 0.432 days and the 0.3-day period was an alias.[14]

See also

References

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