Zeta Reticuli

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Zeta Reticuli (ζ Ret / ζ Reticuli) is a binary star system located about 39 light years away from Earth. It is located in the constellation Reticulum, and is visible to the unaided eye under very dark skies. Because of the southerly location of the system, it is not visible north of the tropics.

[edit] Characteristics

Originally thought to be old galactic halo Population II subdwarfs, the two stars are now thought to be younger galactic disk stars, but still considerably older than the Sun, perhaps as much as 8 billion years old. They belong to the Zeta Herculis Moving Group. Both stars share similar proper motions and distances confirming that they indeed form a wide binary star. The stars are approximately 9,000 AU apart. The stars revolve around each other once in over a million years.

The stars, designated ζ¹ Reticuli and ζ² Reticuli, are both yellow dwarf (main sequence) stars remarkably similar to our Sun. No close-in giant planets have been detected around either of the components, making Earth-like terrestrial planets possible. However, the stars are only 60% as enriched with metals as the Sun. Small, terrestrial planets around less metal-rich stars are less likely according to our current knowledge, though gas giant development is not impeded by this.

ζ¹ Reticuli is slightly less massive and luminous than the Sun. Spectral class of the star is G2.5 V.

ζ² Reticuli has a very similar mass and luminosity to our Sun. The spectral type of the star is G1 V. The star was suspected to have a close stellar companion, but it was deemed to be an instrument artifact.

On September 20, 1996 an extrasolar planet was announced orbiting the star. The planet would have a short orbit (0.14 AU) and mass of about 27% that of Jupiter. However, the discovery was quickly retracted as the signal was shown to be caused by pulsations of the star.

[edit] Cultural importance

Map of Zeta Reticuli, according to Betty Hill and Marjorie Fish.

The Zeta Reticuli system has gained significant popularity because of its connection with ufology.

[edit] Zeta Reticuli in ufology

It is often alleged that Zeta Reticuli is home to an alien civilization commonly referred to as the Greys. They supposedly have been visiting Earth, abducting, studying and interacting with humans, genetically altering and developing hu-brids otherwise known as hy-brids, and are responsible for some cattle/animal mutulations. This belief partially stems from a claim known as the Betty and Barney Hill abduction in 1961. Years later, under hypnosis, Betty Hill drew a star map purported to show the relative positions of the aliens' home star and the Sun. UFO researcher Marjorie Fish soon claimed that the map indicated Zeta Reticuli as the aliens' home, although skeptics have pointed out that the map is too vague to accurately pinpoint any particular star at all. Fish's identifications of stars on the Gliese Catalog of solar type stars match the positions of the stars as viewed from Zeta Reticuli according to Hill's drawn picture.

In an interview with George Knapp for a television documentary, Bob Lazar, the man who first described Area 51 as a secret UFO research facility, suggested that the UFO which he claimed to have helped reverse-engineer may have come from the vicinity of Zeta Reticuli. He learned this from a few United States Handbooks of E.B.E's (extra-biological entities) codes and conduct and from his superiors inside S-4. However, Lazar's claims have been debated as his educational background and place of residence as well as numerous aspects of his story do not add up, such as his suggestions of element 115 and element 116 that are what propel the gravity generators of the "flying saucer" do not exist on the planet earth. Lazar remains to this day a controversial icon in the ufology world.

Another theory which involves Zeta Reticuli, is the claim that there was a secret exchange program ("Project Serpo") of 12 men from Earth traveling to Serpo, allegedly a planet in Zeta Reticuli. Many aspects of this project, including the data on the star system, are flat incorrect and attempts to compensate for this involve the introduction of new unknown physical forces, discarding well known laws of physics, and other pseudo-scientific claims.

[edit] See also

• Zeta Reticuli in fiction

[edit] External links

[edit] Astronomical links

• SIMBAD ζ¹ Ret entry, ζ² Ret entry
• Zeta 1 Reticuli at Stellar Database
• Zeta 2 Reticuli at Stellar Database
• Reticulum (the Net) at Sea and Sky
• Zeta 1 Reticuli at AstroNexus
• Zeta 2 Reticuli at AstroNexus
• Zeta Reticuli at SolStation

[edit] Ufology links

• Project SERPO - The Zeta Reticuli Exchange Program
• About Project SERPO - From American Chronicle
• Project Serpo: The Zeta Reticuli Exchange Program: AboveTopSecret.com Discussion - AboveTopSecret.com Discussion