FG Sagittae
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS) | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Sagitta |
| Right ascension | 20h 11m 56.06s[1] |
| Declination | +20° 20′ 04.4″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | −8.96[1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | G0Iae D[1] |
| B−V color index | 8.80[1] |
| Other designations | |
FG Sge, HIP 99527, PN ARO 169, ALS 10924, IRAS 20097+2010, PN G060.3-07.3, AN 377.1943, Hen 3-1844, JP11 5474, CSI+20-20097, Hen 2-457, LS II +20 19, TYC 1626-619-1, CSV 5066, Hen 1-5, 2MASS J20115606+2020044, UBV M 50884, PK 060-07 1, AAVSO 2007+20[1] | |
FG Sagittae, in the constellation Sagitta, is a supergiant star in the constellation Sagitta at a distance of 8000 light-years. When first noted in 1943, it was noticed to be a variable star, and its spectrum was registered as of B4Ieq ("blue") in 1955. Since then it has expanded and reddened to G ("yellow") in 1991[2], and then further to about K[3] ("orange"). FG started to pulsate when becoming an A-type star (soon after being registered as B4Ieq) with a period of 15 days, now the period has increased to over 100 days.
FG Sagittae is the central star of the planetary nebula Henize 1-5.
Since 1992 the star has exhibited fadings and recoveries similar to that of a R Coronae Borealis variable star, and this behavior is emphasized by a hydrogen deficiency typical for this class of stars[4].
It has been proposed that this star has undergone a late thermal pulse (LTP) of helium fusion after having left the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) to move towards the hottest end of the white dwarf cooling track. This thermal pulse is believed to have revived this aged star to once again, for a short time, behave as an AGB star[4].
References
- ^ a b c d e f SIMBAD Database entry for V4334 Sgr, SIMBAD. Accessed online 2009-05-18.
- ^ Newscientist: Life and times of a chameleon star
- ^ VizieR data on FG Sge, search for Catalogue of Stellar Spectral Classifications (Skiff, 2007)
- ^ a b NASA ADS: "Sakurai's Object, V605 Aquilae, and FG Sagittae: An Evolutionary Sequence Revealed", by Lawlor, T. M.; MacDonald, J.
See also
- Sakurai's Object, also known as V4334 Sgr, another presumed late thermal pulsing object.
- V605 Aquilae.
External links
- AAVSO Variable Star of the Month. FG Sagittae: June 2008
- AAVSO Variable Star of the Month. FG Sagittae: November 1998
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