Kappa Canis Majoris

κ Canis Majoris
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Canis Major
Right ascension 06h 49m 50.5s
Declination 32° 30′ 31″
Apparent magnitude (V) +3.50
Distance790 ± 96 ly
(242 ± 29 pc)
Spectral typeB1.5IVne
Other designations
13 Canis Majoris, HR 2538, HD 50013, CD −32° 3404, FK5 1180, HIP 32759, SAO 197258, GC 8946

Kappa Canis Majoris (κ CMa, κ Canis Majoris) is a star in the constellation Canis Major. It is approximately 790 light years from Earth.

κ Canis Majoris is a blue-white B-type subgiant with a mean apparent magnitude of +3.50. This is a rapidly rotating Be star with 5.9 times the radius of the Sun.[1] It is classified as a Gamma Cassiopeiae type variable star and its brightness varies from magnitude +3.4 to +3.97.[2] It has become 50% brighter between 1963 and 1978, from magnitude 3.96 or so to 3.52.[3]

Naming

In Chinese, 弧矢 (Hú Shǐ), meaning Bow and Arrow,[4] refers to an asterism consisting of κ Canis Majoris, δ Canis Majoris, η Canis Majoris, HD 63032, HD 65456, ο Puppis, k Puppis, ε Canis Majoris and π Puppis. Consequently, κ Canis Majoris itself is known as 弧矢八 (Hú Shǐ bā, English: the Eighth Star of Bow and Arrow.)[5]

References

  1. Meilland, A.; Stee, Ph.; Chesneau, O.; Jones, C. (October 2009), "VLTI/MIDI observations of 7 classical Be stars", Astronomy and Astrophysics 505 (2): 687–693, arXiv:0908.1239, Bibcode:2009A&A...505..687M, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200911960
  2. Watson, Christopher (4 January 2010). "Kappa Canis Majoris". AAVSO Website. American Association of Variable Star Observers. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  3. Kaler, James B. (1 March 2013). "Kappa Canis Majoris". Stars. University of Illinois. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  4. 弧矢 (Hú Shǐ) is westernized into Koo She. R.H. Allen had opinion that Koo She refers to the asterism including δ Velorum and ω Velorum. AEEA opinion is, δ Velorum is member of 天社 (Tiān Shè), meaning Celestial Earth God's Temple asterism and ω Velorum is not member of any asterisms. 天社 (Tiān Shè) is westernized into Tseen She and R.H.Allen used the term Tseen She for Chinese name of η Carinae. See Richard Hinckley Allen: Star Names — Their Lore and Meaning: Argo Navis and (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 17 日.
  5. (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 17 日
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