Kappa Scorpii
 Location of κ Scorpii (circled) |
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| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 |
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|---|---|
| Constellation | Scorpius |
| Right ascension | 17h 42m 29.27520s[1] |
| Declination | –39° 01′ 47.9391″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 2.39[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | B1.5 III[3] |
| U−B color index | -0.914[4] |
| B−V color index | -0.228[4] |
| Variable type | β Cephei |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | –14.0[2] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: -6.05[1] mas/yr Dec.: -25.54[1] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 6.75 ± 0.17[1] mas |
| Distance | 480 ± 10 ly (148 ± 4 pc) |
| Orbit[5] | |
| Period (P) | 195.65 days |
| Eccentricity (e) | 0.488 ± 0.005 |
| Periastron epoch (T) | 92.7 ± 0.5 |
| Semi-amplitude (K1) (primary) |
48.0 ± 0.3 km/s |
| Details | |
| κ Sco A | |
| Mass | 17[5] M☉ |
| Radius | 6.8[5] R☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 4.01[5] |
| Temperature | 23,400[5] K |
| Rotation | 1.90 days[5] |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 105[6] km/s |
| Age | 25.1 ± 1.3[7] Myr |
| κ Sco B | |
| Mass | 12[5] M☉ |
| Radius | 5.8[5] R☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 4.00[5] |
| Temperature | 18,800[5] K |
| Other designations | |
Kappa Scorpii (κ Sco, κ Scorpii) is a binary star system in the southern constellation of Scorpius. It has the traditional name Girtab,[8] which is the Sumerian word for 'scorpion' and has survived through the Babylonian star catalogues.[9] The name Girtab is actually (or perhaps originally) applied to an asterism comprising this star, Lambda Scorpii, Upsilon Scorpii, and Iota Scorpii.[8] With an apparent visual magnitude of 2.4,[2] this star system is readily visible to the naked eye. Parallax measurements place it at an estimated distance of roughly 480 light-years (150 parsecs) from the Earth.[1]
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[edit] Properties
This is a spectroscopic binary, which is a type of binary star system in which the two stars are so close together that they have not been individually resolved with a telescope. The pair orbit each other with a period of about 196 days and an eccentricity of nearly 0.5.[5] The combined spectrum of this pair matches a star with a stellar classification of B1.5 III.[3] The 'III' luminosity class indicates the presence of a giant star that has exhausted the supply of hydrogen at its core and is in a late evolutionary stage.
The primary component of the pair, κ Sco A, is a variable star of Beta Cephei type. It is undergoing radial pulsations with a dominant frequency of 4.99922 cycles per day, or 4.8 hours per cycle. There are overlapping secondary pulsation frequencies of about 4.85 and 5.69 cycles per day.[10] This star has about 17 times the mass of the Sun and is nearly 7 times the Sun's radius.[5] The effective temperature of the outer envelope is 23,400 K,[5] giving it a blue-white hue. It is rotating rapidly, with an estimated period of only 1.9 days and an axis of rotation that is inclined by about 40° to the line of sight from the Earth.[5]
The secondary component, κ Sco B, is smaller than the primary, but still much larger than the Sun. It has about 12 times the mass of the Sun and nearly six times the Sun's radius.[5] The effective temperature of 18,800 K[5] is also higher than the Sun's, which is at 5,778 K.
[edit] Modern legacy
Girtab appears on the flag of Brazil, symbolising the state of Paraíba.[11]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f van Leeuwen, F. (November 2007), "Validation of the new Hipparcos reduction", Astronomy and Astrophysics 474 (2): 653–664, Bibcode 2007A&A...474..653V, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078357
- ^ a b c Wielen, R. et al. (1999), Sixth Catalogue of Fundamental Stars (FK6). Part I. Basic fundamental stars with direct solutions, Astronomisches Rechen-Institut Heidelberg, Bibcode 1999VeARI..35....1W
- ^ a b Houk, Nancy (1978), Michigan catalogue of two-dimensional spectral types for the HD star, 3, Ann Arbor: Dept. of Astronomy, University of Michigan: distributed by University Microfilms International, Bibcode 1982mcts.book.....H
- ^ a b Gutierrez-Moreno, Adelina; Moreno, Hugo (June 1968), "A photometric investigation of the Scorpio-Centaurus association", Astrophysical Journal Supplement 15: 459, Bibcode 1968ApJS...15..459G, doi:10.1086/190168
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Uytterhoeven, K. et al. (June 2001), "Line-profile variations of the double-lined spectroscopic binary kappa Scorpii", Astronomy and Astrophysics 371: 1035–1047, Bibcode 2001A&A...371.1035U, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20010456
- ^ Bernacca, P. L.; Perinotto, M. (1970), "A Catalogue of Stellar Rotational Velocities", Contributi Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova in Asiago 239 (1), Bibcode 1970CoAsi.239....1B
- ^ Tetzlaff, N.; Neuhäuser, R.; Hohle, M. M. (January 2011), "A catalogue of young runaway Hipparcos stars within 3 kpc from the Sun", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 410 (1): 190–200, Bibcode 2011MNRAS.410..190T, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17434.x
- ^ a b Falkner, David E. (2011), The Mythology of the Night Sky: An Amateur Astronomer's Guide to the Ancient Greek and Roman Legends, Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy, Springer, p. 106, ISBN 1461401364, http://books.google.com/books?id=tyj8UUE968wC&pg=PA106
- ^ Ridpath, Ian (1989), Star tales, James Clarke & Co., p. 114, ISBN 0718826957, http://books.google.com/books?id=gFrdcTdeVaEC&pg=RA1-PA14
- ^ Uytterhoeven, K. et al. (March 2005), "Disentangling component spectra of κ Scorpii, a spectroscopic binary with a pulsating primary. II. Interpretation of the line-profile variability", Astronomy and Astrophysics 432 (3): 955–967, Bibcode 2005A&A...432..955U, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20041444
- ^ "Astronomy of the Brazilian Flag". FOTW Flags Of The World website. http://www.fotw.net/flags/br_astro.html.
[edit] External links
- Kaler, James B., Stars (University of Illinois), http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/kappasco.html, retrieved 2012-01-13
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