Rho Aurigae
 The location of ρ Aurigae (circled) |
|
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation | Auriga |
| Right ascension | 05h 21m 48.41650s[1] |
| Declination | +41° 48′ 16.4615″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +5.22[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | B3 V[3] |
| U−B color index | –0.57[2] |
| B−V color index | –0.14[2] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +13.1[4] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: +14.42[1] mas/yr Dec.: –37.32[1] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 6.16 ± 0.36[1] mas |
| Distance | 530 ± 30 ly (162 ± 9 pc) |
| Orbit[5] | |
| Period (P) | 34.49321 ± 0.00057 d |
| Eccentricity (e) | 0.104 ± 0.019 |
| Periastron epoch (T) | 47962.5 ± 2.0 JD |
| Argument of periastron (ω) (secondary) |
3.4 ± 12.0° |
| Semi-amplitude (K1) (primary) |
39.8 ± 0.8 km/s |
| Details | |
| ρ Aur A | |
| Mass | 5–7[5] M☉ |
| Radius | 3.2–3.4[6] R☉ |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 55[7] km/s |
| ρ Aur B | |
| Mass | 2–4[5] M☉ |
| Other designations | |
Rho Aurigae (ρ Aur, ρ Aurigae) is the Bayer designation for a binary star system in the northern constellation of Auriga. It is faintly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of +5.22.[2] Judging by parallax measurements, this system is approximately 530 light-years (160 parsecs) distant from the Earth, give or take a 30 light-year margin of error.[1]
This is a single-lined spectroscopic binary system wherein the presence of a companion object is revealed by shifts in the stellar spectrum. The pair orbit each other with a period of 34.49 days and an eccentricity of 0.10.[5] The primary component of this system is a B-type main sequence star with a stellar classification of B3 V.[3] The secondary may be a B- or A-type star.[5]
Name
This star, along with λ Aur and μ Aur, were Kazwini's Al Ḣibāʽ (ألحباع), the Tent.[9] According to the catalogue of stars in the Technical Memorandum 33-507 - A Reduced Star Catalog Containing 537 Named Stars, Al Ḣibāʽ were the title for three stars : λ Aur as Al Ḣibāʽ I, μ Aur as Al Ḣibāʽ II and ρ Aur as Al Ḣibāʽ III.[10]
In Chinese, 咸池 (Xián Chí), meaning Pool of Harmony, refers to an asterism consisting of ρ Aurigae, λ Aurigae and HD 36041.[11] Consequently, ρ Aurigae itself is known as 咸池一 (Xián Chí yī, English: the First Star of Pool of Harmony.)[12]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Note: see VizieR catalogue I/311.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ (Chinese) 中國星座神話, written by 陳久金. Published by 台灣書房出版有限公司, 2005, ISBN 978-986-7332-25-7.
- ↑ (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 13 日
