Gamma Canis Majoris

"Muliphein" redirects here. For other uses, see Muliphein (disambiguation).
γ Canis Maioris
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Canis Major
Right ascension 07h 03m 45.49305s[1]
Declination −15° 37 59.8300[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) +4.10[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type B8II[3]
U−B color index −0.45[2]
B−V color index −0.13[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+32.0[4] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −0.14[1] mas/yr
Dec.: –11.36[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)7.38 ± 0.21[1] mas
Distance440 ± 10 ly
(136 ± 4 pc)
Details
Radius5.6[5] R
Surface gravity (log g)3.5[5] cgs
Temperature13,596[5] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.24[6] dex
Rotation6.16 d[7]
Rotational velocity (v sin i)30[8] km/s
Other designations
Muliphein, Muliphen, Isis, Mirza, 23 Canis Majoris, BD 15° 1625, FK5 271, HD 53244, HR 2657, HIP 34045, SAO 152303.[9]

Gamma Canis Majoris (γ CMa, γ Canis Majoris) is a star in the constellation Canis Major. It has the traditional name Muliphein,[10] not to be confused with Muhlifain, which is Gamma Centauri; both names derive from the same Arabic root, محلفين muħlifayn. It is unclear exactly why this relatively faint star was given the "gamma" designation, but it is possibly because it is in the same part of the constellation as Sirius (alpha) and Murzim (beta).

γ Canis Majoris is a blue-white B-type bright giant with a stellar classification of B8II[3] and an apparent magnitude of +4.11. It is approximately 440 light years from Earth. It is a chemically peculiar Hg-Mg star displaying abnormal lines of mercury and magnesium.[7] This star has 5.6 times the radius of the Sun and the outer atmosphere has an effective temperature of 13,596 K.[5]

This star is suspected of being a spectroscopic binary system, and there is a candidate companion at an angular separation of 0.332″ along a position angle of 114.8°.[7] It is a member of the Collander 121 open cluster.[11]

Modern legacy

Muliphein appears on the flag of Brazil, symbolizing the state of Rondônia.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 van Leeuwen, F. (2007), "Validation of the new Hipparcos reduction", Astronomy and Astrophysics 474 (2): 653–664, arXiv:0708.1752, Bibcode:2007A&A...474..653V, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078357.
  2. 1 2 3 Fernie, J. D. (May 1983), "New UBVRI photometry for 900 supergiants", Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series 52: 7–22, Bibcode:1983ApJS...52....7F, doi:10.1086/190856.
  3. 1 2 Buscombe, W. (1962), "Spectral classification of Southern fundamental stars", Mount Stromlo Observatory Mimeogram 4, Bibcode:1962MtSOM...4....1B.
  4. Kharchenko, N. V.; et al. (2007), "Astrophysical supplements to the ASCC-2.5: Ia. Radial velocities of ∼55000 stars and mean radial velocities of 516 Galactic open clusters and associations", Astronomische Nachrichten 328 (9): 889, arXiv:0705.0878, Bibcode:2007AN....328..889K, doi:10.1002/asna.200710776.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Underhill, A. B.; et al. (November 1979), "Effective temperatures, angular diameters, distances and linear radii for 160 O and B stars", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 189: 601–605, Bibcode:1979MNRAS.189..601U, doi:10.1093/mnras/189.3.601.
  6. Searle, Leonard; et al. (July 1966), "Studies of the Peculiar a Stars.IV. The Relative Abundances of Four Iron-Peak Elements", Astrophysical Journal 145: 141, Bibcode:1966ApJ...145..141S, doi:10.1086/148750.
  7. 1 2 3 Hubrig, S.; et al. (November 2012), "Magnetic fields of HgMn stars*", Astronomy & Astrophysics 547: 24, arXiv:1208.2910, Bibcode:2012A&A...547A..90H, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201219778, A90.
  8. Abt, Helmut A.; et al. (July 2002), "Rotational Velocities of B Stars", The Astrophysical Journal 573 (1): 359–365, Bibcode:2002ApJ...573..359A, doi:10.1086/340590.
  9. "gam CMa -- Star in Cluster", SIMBAD Astronomical Database (Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg), retrieved 2016-03-07.
  10. Star Name - R.H.Allen p.130
  11. Maza, N. L.; et al. (October 2010), "Atomic species in the spectrum of the Hg-Mn star HD 53244", Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica 46: 339−348, Bibcode:2010RMxAA..46..339M.
  12. "Astronomy of the Brazilian Flag". FOTW Flags Of The World website.
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