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Star system in the constellation Cancer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gamma Cancri, or γ Cancri, is a star in the northern constellation of Cancer. It is formally named Asellus Borealis /əˈsɛləs bɒriˈælɪs/, the traditional name of the system.[12] Based on parallax measurements, it is located at a distance of approximately 181 light years from the Sun. The star is drifting further away with a radial velocity of 29 km/s.[5] In 1910 this star was reported to be a spectroscopic binary by O. J. Lee,[13] but is now considered a single star.[14][15] Since it is near the ecliptic, it can be occulted by the Moon[16] and, very rarely, by planets.
 | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS) | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cancer |
| Right ascension | 08h 43m 17.14820s[1] |
| Declination | +21° 28′ 06.6008″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 4.673[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | A1IV[3] |
| U−B color index | +0.03[4] |
| B−V color index | +0.010[2] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | 28.7[5] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −103.51[1] mas/yr Dec.: −39.48[1] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 18.00 ± 0.21 mas[1] |
| Distance | 181 ± 2 ly (55.6 ± 0.6 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | +1.1[6] |
| Details | |
| Mass | 2.18[7] M☉ |
| Radius | 2.5[8] R☉ |
| Luminosity | 36[9] L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 4.17[7] cgs |
| Temperature | 9,108[9] K |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 86±6[10] km/s |
| Age | 171[7] Myr |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
γ Cancri (Latinised to Gamma Cancri) is the star's Bayer designation. It bore the traditional name Asellus Borealis (Latin for "northern donkey").[17] In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)[18] to catalogue and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN decided to attribute proper names to individual stars rather than entire multiple systems.[19] It approved the name Asellus Borealis for the star on 6 November 2016 and it is now so included in the List of IAU-approved Star Names.[12] Together with Delta Cancri, it formed the Aselli, flanking Praesepe.[20]
In Chinese astronomy, Ghost (Chinese: 鬼宿; pinyin: Guǐ Xiù) refers to an asterism consisting of Theta Cancri, Eta Cancri, Gamma Cancri and Delta Cancri.[21] Gamma Cancri itself is known as the third star of Ghost (Chinese: 鬼宿三; pinyin: Guǐ Xiù sān).[22]
Gamma Cancri presents as a white A-type subgiant with an apparent magnitude of +4.67.[3] The star is an estimated 171[7] million years old and is spinning with a projected rotational velocity of 86 km/s.[10] It has 2.18[7] times the mass of the Sun and shines with a luminosity approximately 36 times greater at an effective temperature of 9108 K.[9]
It has been included as a member of the Hyades Stream based on its distance, space motion, and likely age.[23]
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