18 Delphini

18 Delphini
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Delphinus
Right ascension 20h 58m 25.93s
Declination +10° 50' 21.43″
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.522
Absolute magnitude (V)1.202
Distance238.493 ly
(73.121 pc)
Spectral typeG6III:
Other designations
Database references
SIMBADdata

18 Delphini (abbreviated 18 Del), also named Musica, is a yellow giant star of spectral type G6III situated approximately 238 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Delphinus. An extrasolar planet (designated 18 Delphini b, later named Arion) is believed to be orbiting the star.

Nomenclature

18 Delphini is the star's Flamsteed designation. Following its discovery the planet was designated 18 Delphini b. In July 2014 the International Astronomical Union launched a process for giving proper names to certain exoplanets and their host stars.[1] The process involved public nomination and voting for the new names.[2] In December 2015, the IAU announced the winning names were Musica for this star and Arion for its planet.[3]

The winning names were those submitted by the Tokushima Prefectural Jonan High School Science Club of Japan. 'Musica' is Latin for 'music'. Arion was a genius of poetry and music in ancient Greece. According to legend, his life was saved at sea by dolphins after attracting their attention by the playing of his kithara [4] ('Delphinus' is Latin for 'dolphin').

Planetary system

On February 19, 2008, a 10.3 Jupiter mass extrasolar planet was found to be orbiting the star.[5]

The 18 Delphini planetary system[5]
Companion
(in order from star)
Mass Semimajor axis
(AU)
Orbital period
(days)
Eccentricity Inclination Radius
b (Arion) >10.3 MJ 2.6 993.3 ± 3.2 0.08 ± 0.01

References

External links

Coordinates: 20h 58m 26s, +10° 50′ 21″

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