Beta Reticuli

Beta Reticuli

Location of β Reticuli (circled)

Observation data Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation	Reticulum
Right ascension	03^h 44^m 11.55^s
Declination	−64° 48′ 25.5″
Apparent magnitude (V)	+3.84
Distance	100 ly (31 pc)
Spectral type	K0IV SB
Other designations
β Reticuli, β Ret, Beta Ret, CCDM J03443-6449A, CPD−65  263, FK5 141, GC 4517, HD 23817, HIP 17440, HR 1175, IDS 03429-6507 A, PPM 353699, SAO 248877, WDS J03442-6448A

Beta Reticuli (Beta Ret, β Reticuli, β Ret) is triple star system and spectroscopic binary in constellation of Reticulum, with an apparent magnitude of +3.84. The primary component is an orange K-type giant. It is approximately 100 light years from Earth.

Beta Reticuli is moving through the Galaxy at a speed of 69.2 km/s relative to the Sun. Its projected Galactic orbit carries it between 10,100 and 24,200 light years from the center of the Galaxy.^[1]

Beta Reticuli came closest to the Sun 319,000 years ago when it had brightened to magnitude 2.98 from a distance of 67 light years.^[1]

Naming

In Chinese caused by adaptation of the European southern hemisphere constellations into the Chinese system, 蛇首 (Shé Shǒu), meaning Snake's Head, refers to an asterism consisting of β Reticuli and α Hydri. Consequently, β Reticuli itself is known as 蛇首二 (Shé Shǒu èr, English: the Second Star of Snake's Head.)^[2]

References

1. Beta Reticuli (HIP 17440)
2. (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 27 日