Gamma Velorum

Gamma Velorum is a quadruple star system in the constellation Vela. This name is the Bayer designation for the star, which is Latinised from γ Velorum and abbreviated γ Vel. At a combined magnitude of +1.72, it is one of the brightest stars in the night sky, and contains by far the closest and brightest Wolf–Rayet star. It has the traditional name Suhail al Muhlif and the modern name Regor /ˈriːɡɔːr/,^[9] but neither is approved by the International Astronomical Union, making it the brightest star by apparent magnitude without an IAU approved name.

γ² Velorum

Location of γ Velorum (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Vela
Right ascension	08h 09m 31.95013s[1]
Declination	–47° 20′ 11.7108″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)	1.83[2] (1.81–1.87[3])
Characteristics
Spectral type	WC8 + O7.5III[4]
U−B color index	−0.94[2]
B−V color index	−0.25[2]
Variable type	Wolf–Rayet[3]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	+12±1[5] km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: –6.07[1] mas/yr Dec.: +10.43[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)	2.92±0.30 mas[1]
Distance	1096+26 −23[6] ly (336+8 −7 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	−4.6 + −6.0[6]
Orbit[7]
Primary	O
Companion	WR
Period (P)	78.53±0.01 days
Semi-major axis (a)	1.2[8] AU
Eccentricity (e)	0.326±0.01
Inclination (i)	65±8°
Periastron epoch (T)	2,450,120.5±2
Argument of periastron (ω) (secondary)	248±4°
Semi-amplitude (K1) (primary)	38.4±2 km/s
Semi-amplitude (K2) (secondary)	122±2 km/s
Details
WR
Mass	9.0±0.6[8] M☉
Radius	1.9[6] R☉
Luminosity (bolometric)	204,000[6] L☉
Luminosity (visual, LV)	5,900[6] L☉
Temperature	90,000[6] K
Age	5[6] Myr
O
Mass	28.5±1.1[8] M☉
Radius	16.2[6] R☉
Luminosity (bolometric)	363,000[6] L☉
Luminosity (visual, LV)	21,500[6] L☉
Temperature	35,100[6] K
Age	5[6] Myr
Other designations
Regor, Suhail Al-Muhlif, CD−46°3847, FK5 309, HD 68273, HIP 39953, HR 3207, SAO 219504, WR 11
Database references
SIMBAD	data

The γ Velorum system includes a pair of stars separated by 41″, each of which is also a spectroscopic binary system. γ² Velorum, the brighter of the visible pair, contains the Wolf–Rayet star and a blue supergiant, while γ¹ Velorum contains a blue giant and an unseen companion.

Distance

Gamma Velorum is close enough to have accurate parallax measurements as well as distance estimates by more indirect means. The Hipparcos parallax for γ² implies a distance of 342 parsecs (pc). A dynamical parallax derived from calculations of the orbital parameters gives a value of 336 pc, similar to spectrophotometric derivations. A VLTI-based interferometry measurement of the distance gives a slightly larger value of 368±51 pc. All these distances are somewhat less than the commonly assumed distance of 450 pc for the Vela OB2 association which is the closest grouping of young massive stars.^[10]

Stellar system

Vela OB2 with γ Velorum being the brightest star in the upper left. The image also shows the smaller star cluster NGC 2547 in the lower left part. The nebulosity around the stars is part of the Gum Nebula.

The Gamma Velorum system is composed of at least four stars. The brightest member, γ² Velorum or γ Velorum A, is a spectroscopic binary composed of a blue supergiant of spectral class O7.5 (~30 M_☉), and a massive Wolf–Rayet star (~9 M_☉, originally ~35 M_☉).^[8] The binary has an orbital period of 78.5 days and separation varying from 0.8 to 1.6 astronomical units. Both the Wolf–Rayet star and the blue supergiant are likely to end their lives as Type Ib supernovae; they are among the nearest supernova candidates to the Sun.^[11][12] The Wolf–Rayet star has traditionally been regarded as the primary since its emission lines dominate the spectrum, but the O star is visually brighter, more luminous and also more massive. For clarity, the components are now often referred to as WR and O.^[8]

The bright (apparent magnitude +4.2) γ¹ Velorum or γ Velorum B, is a spectroscopic binary with a period of 1.48 days. Only the primary is detected and it is a blue-white giant. It is separated from the Wolf–Rayet binary by 41.2″, easily resolved with binoculars.^[13] The pair are too close to be separated without optical assistance, and they appear to the naked eye as a single star of apparent magnitude 1.72 (at the average brightness of γ² of 1.83).

Gamma Velorum has several fainter companions that share a common motion and are likely to be members of the Vela OB2 association.^[13] The magnitude +7.3 CD-46 3848 is a white F0 star at is 62.3 arcseconds from the A component. At 93.5 arcseconds is another binary star, an F0 star of magnitude +9.2.

Gamma Velorum is associated with several hundred pre-main-sequence stars within less than a degree. The ages of these stars would be at least 5 million years.^[13]

γ¹ Velorum

Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Vela
Right ascension	08h 09m 29.3175s[14]
Declination	–47° 20′ 43.013″[14]
Apparent magnitude (V)	4.27[15]
Characteristics
Spectral type	B2III[13]
U−B color index	−0.92[15]
B−V color index	−0.22[15]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	+9.7±1[15] km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: –6.243[14] mas/yr Dec.: +9.475[14] mas/yr
Parallax (π)	2.6052±0.1235 mas[14]
Distance	1,250 ± 60 ly (380 ± 20 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	−3.62[13]
Details
Mass	14[13] M☉
Radius	9.61±0.39[14] R☉
Surface gravity (log g)	3.47±0.03[14] cgs
Temperature	20,100±100[14] K
Age	8[13] Myr
Other designations
CD−46°3846, HD 68243, HR 3206, SAO 219501
Database references
SIMBAD	data

Etymology

The Arabic name is al Suhail al Muḥlīf. al Muhlif refers to the oath-taker, and al Suhail is originally derived from a word meaning the plain. Suhail is used for at least three other stars: Canopus, λ Velorum (al Suhail al Wazn) and ζ Puppis (Suhail Hadar). Suhail is also a common Arabic male first name.^[16]

In Chinese, 天社 (Tiān Shè), meaning Celestial Earth God's Temple, refers to an asterism consisting of γ² Velorum, δ Velorum, κ Velorum and b Velorum.^[17] Consequently, γ² Velorum itself is known as 天社一 (Tiān Shè yī), "the First Star of Celestial Earth God's Temple".^[18]

The name Regor ("Roger" spelled in reverse) was invented as a practical joke by the Apollo 1 astronaut Gus Grissom for his fellow astronaut Roger Chaffee.^[19]

Due to the exotic nature of its spectrum (bright emission lines in lieu of dark absorption lines) it is also dubbed the Spectral Gem of Southern Skies.^[20]

See also

• Gamma Cassiopeiae, informally named Navi for astronaut Virgil Ivan "Gus" Grissom
• Iota Ursae Majoris, informally named Dnoces for astronaut Ed White