Xi Geminorum

Xi Geminorum
Diagram showing star positions and boundaries of the Gemini constellation and its surroundings


Location of ξ Geminorum (circled)

Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Gemini
Right ascension 06h 45m 17.36432s[1]
Declination +12° 53′ 44.1311″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 3.35[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type F5 IV[3]
U−B color index +0.06[4]
B−V color index +0.43[4]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+25.6[2] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: –115.73[1] mas/yr
Dec.: –190.55[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)55.56 ± 0.19[1] mas
Distance58.7 ± 0.2 ly
(18.00 ± 0.06 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)2.14[5]
Details
Mass1.706 ± 0.012[6] M☉
Radius2.710 ± 0.021[6] R☉
Luminosity11.574 ± 0.238[6] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)3.81 ± 0.02[7] cgs
Temperature6,480 ± 39[6] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]0.00 ± 0.01[7] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)66.1 ± 3.3[8] km/s
Age1.5[9] Gyr
Other designations
31 Geminorum, HR 2484, HD 48737, BD+13 1396, FK5 256, HIP 32362, SAO 96074.[3]

Xi Geminorum (ξ Gem) is a star in the zodiac constellation Gemini with the traditional name Alzirr.[10] It forms one of the four feet of the outline demarcating the Gemini twins.[11] The star has an apparent visual magnitude of 3.35,[2] which is bright enough for it to be seen with the naked eye. From parallax measurements, its distance from the Earth can be estimated as 58.7 light-years (18.0 parsecs).[1]

Alzirr has a stellar classification of F5 IV,[3] which is subgiant star that is in the process of evolving away from the main sequence of stars like the Sun. It has about 162%[5] of the Sun's mass and is radiating more than 11 times the luminosity of the Sun.[7] This energy is being emitted from the outer envelope of the star at an effective temperature of 6,464 K.[7] This causes the star to take on the yellow-white hue common to F-type stars.[12]

X-ray emission has been detected from this star, which has an estimated X-ray luminosity of 1.06 × 1029 erg s−1.[5] It has the spectroscopic signature of a rapidly rotating star, with a projected rotational velocity of about 66 km s−1.[8] Although generally considered a single star, there is some evidence that it may instead be a spectroscopic binary system consisting of two component stars of equal mass.[13]

Name

The proper name of Xi Geminorum is Alzirr, meaning "the button" in Arabic. This star, along with γ Gem (Alhena), μ Gem (Tejat Posterior), ν Gem and η Gem (Tejat Prior) were Al Han'ah, "the brand" (on the neck of the camel). They also were associated in Al Nuḥātai, the dual form of Al Nuḥāt, "a Camel's Hump".[10]

In Chinese, 井宿 (Jǐng Su), meaning Well (asterism), refers to an asterism consisting of ξ Geminorum, μ Geminorum, ν Geminorum, γ Geminorum, ε Geminorum, 36 Geminorum, ζ Geminorum and λ Geminorum.[14] Consequently, ξ Geminorum itself is known as 井宿四 (Jǐng Su sì, English: the Fourth Star of Well.)[15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 van Leeuwen, F. (November 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 Wielen, R.; et al. (1999), Sixth Catalogue of Fundamental Stars (FK6). Part I. Basic fundamental stars with direct solutions (35), Astronomisches Rechen-Institut Heidelberg, Bibcode:1999VeARI..35....1W
  3. 1 2 3 "ksi Gem -- Variable Star", SIMBAD (Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg), retrieved 2012-01-20
  4. 1 2 Johnson, H. L.; et al. (1966). "UBVRIJKL photometry of the bright stars". Communications of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory 4 (99). Bibcode:1966CoLPL...4...99J.
  5. 1 2 3 Pizzolato, N.; Maggio, A.; Sciortino, S. (September 2000), "Evolution of X-ray activity of 1-3 Msun late-type stars in early post-main-sequence phases", Astronomy and Astrophysics 361: 614–628, Bibcode:2000A&A...361..614P
  6. 1 2 3 4 Boyajian, Tabetha S.; et al. (February 2012), "Stellar Diameters and Temperatures. I. Main-sequence A, F, and G Stars", The Astrophysical Journal 746 (1): 101, arXiv:1112.3316, Bibcode:2012ApJ...746..101B, doi:10.1088/0004-637X/746/1/101. See Table 10 & 12.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Pijpers, F. P. (March 2003), "Selection criteria for targets of asteroseismic campaigns", Astronomy and Astrophysics 400: 241–248, arXiv:astro-ph/0303032, Bibcode:2003A&A...400..241P, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20021839
  8. 1 2 Reiners, A. (January 2006), "Rotation- and temperature-dependence of stellar latitudinal differential rotation", Astronomy and Astrophysics 446 (1): 267–277, arXiv:astro-ph/0509399, Bibcode:2006A&A...446..267R, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20053911
  9. ↑ Holmberg, J.; Nordstrom, B.; Andersen, J. (July 2009). "The Geneva-Copenhagen survey of the solar neighbourhood. III. Improved distances, ages, and kinematics". Astronomy and Astrophysics 501 (3): 941–947. arXiv:0811.3982. Bibcode:2009A&A...501..941H. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200811191.
  10. 1 2 Allen, R. H. (1963). Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning (Reprint ed.). New York, NY: Dover Publications Inc. p. 234. ISBN 0-486-21079-0. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
  11. ↑ O'Meara, Stephen James (2002), The Caldwell objects, Deep-sky companions, Cambridge University Press, p. 185, ISBN 0-521-82796-5
  12. ↑ "The Colour of Stars", Australia Telescope, Outreach and Education (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), December 21, 2004, retrieved 2012-01-16
  13. ↑ Fuhrmann, K.; et al. (March 2011), "BESO échelle spectroscopy of solar-type stars at Cerro Armazones", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 411 (4): 2311–2318, Bibcode:2011MNRAS.411.2311F, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17850.x
  14. ↑ (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.
  15. ↑ (Chinese) 香港太空館 - 研究資源 - 亮星中英對照表, Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.

External links

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