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Location of ε Geminorum (upper right of center). |
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| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 |
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|---|---|
| Constellation | Gemini |
| Right ascension | 06h 43m 55.93s |
| Declination | +25° 07′ 52.2″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +3.06 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | G5 |
| Details | |
| Radius | 150 R☉ |
Epsilon Geminorum (ε Gem, ε Geminorum) is a star in the constellation of Gemini. It has the traditional name Mebsuta (also Melboula or Melucta).
The name Mebsuta has its roots in ancient Arabic, where it and the star Mekbuda (Zeta Geminorum) were the paws of a lion. Mebsuta comes from a phrase referring to the outstretched paw.
In Chinese, 井宿 (Jǐng Su), meaning Well (asterism), refers to an asterism consisting of ε Geminorum, μ Geminorum, ν Geminorum, γ Geminorum, ξ Geminorum, 36 Geminorum, ζ Geminorum and λ Geminorum.[1] Consequently, ε Geminorum itself is known as 井宿五 (Jǐng Su wǔ, English: the Fifth Star of Well.)[2]
It is located on the outstretched right "leg" of the twin Castor. It has an apparent magnitude of +3.06. It is approximately 900 light-years (280 pc) from earth, and is a supergiant of spectral class G5, with a diameter approximately 150 times that of the Sun.
Because Epsilon Geminorum is near the ecliptic it can be occulted by the Moon and, rarely, by a planet. The last occlusion by a planet took place on 8 April 1976 by Mars and before that on 10 June 1940 by Mercury.
USS Melucta (AK-131) was a United States Navy Crater class cargo ship named after the star.
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