Eta Virginis

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**η Virginis**
Observation data Epoch J2000.0
Constellation (pronunciation)	Virgo
Right ascension	12^h 19^m 54.4^s
Declination	−0° 40' 01"
Apparent magnitude (V)	+3.89
Distance	250 ± 16 ly (77 ± 5 pc)
Spectral type	A2IV
Other designations
Zaniah, Zannakh, 15 Virginis, HR 4689, HD 107259, BD+00 2926, FK5 460, HIP 60129, SAO 138721, GC 16813, CCDM 12199-0040

Eta Virginis (η Vir / η Virginis) is a star in the constellation Virgo. It also has the traditional name Zaniah.

Zaniah is about 204 light years distant from the Sun, and has apparent magnitude +3.9 and is of spectral type A2IV.

Although the star looks single in any telescope lunar occultations have shown this star to be a very close triple star system consisting of two stars only 0.5 AU apart with a third slightly more distant star.

Because Zaniah is near the ecliptic, it can be occulted by the Moon and (very rarely) by planets. The last occultation by a planet took place on September 27, 1843 by Venus, which will occult it again on November 19, 2445.

[edit] Etymology

The medieval name Zaniah is from the Arabic زاوية zāwiyah "corner".

[edit] External links

v • d • e Virgo constellation

Stars	Spica · Beta Virginis · Gamma Virginis · Delta Virgina · Epsilon Virginis · Zeta Virginis · Eta Virginis · Iota Virginis · Mu Virginis · 70 Virginis

Galaxy cluster	Messier 49 · 58 · 59 · 60 · 61 · 84 · 86 · 87 · 89 · 90