Mu Aquarii

μ Aquarii

μ Aquarii
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Aquarius
Right ascension 20h 52m 39.2336s
Declination −08° 58′ 59.944″
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.723
Characteristics
Spectral type A3m
U−B color index 0.11
B−V color index 0.32
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv) -9.1 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: 47.06 mas/yr
Dec.: -32.91 mas/yr
Parallax (π) 21.01 ± 1.04 mas
Distance 155 ± 8 ly
(48 ± 2 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV) 5.029
Details
Mass 3.1 M
Radius 2.1 R
Luminosity 40 L
Temperature 7,500–10,000 K
Metallicity ?
Rotation 2.31441044 d
Age ? years
Orbit
Companion μ Aquarii B
Period (P) 4.8788501 yr
Semimajor axis (a) 0.1"
Inclination (i) 145°
Other designations
Albulaan, 6 Aquarii, HR 7990,
HD 198743, BD-09°5598,
FK5 1547, HIP 103045,
SAO 144895, GC 29109,
CCDM 20527-0859.
Database references
SIMBAD data
Data sources:
Hipparcos Catalogue,
CCDM (2002),
Bright Star Catalogue (5th rev. ed.)

Mu Aquarii (μ Aqr, μ Aquarii) is a binary star in the constellation Aquarius. It is approximately 155 light years from Earth. It shares the traditional name Albulaan with ν Aquarii. The name derives from an Arabic term al-bulacān (ألبولعان) meaning "the two swallowers". This star, along with ε Aqr (Albali) and ν Aqr (Albulaan), were al Bulaʽ (البلع), the Swallower.[1][2][3]

In Chinese, 奎宿 (Nǚ Sù), meaning Girl (asterism) (or Woman), refers to an asterism consisting of μ Aquarii, ε Aquarii, 4 Aquarii, 5 Aquarii and 3 Aquarii[4]. Consequently, μ Aquarii itself is known as 女宿二 (Nǚ Sù èr, English: the Second Star of Girl / Woman.)[5]

Mu Aquarii is a spectroscopic binary which has a stellar classification of A3m. Its two components have an orbital period of 1782 days and a separation of 0.1 arcseconds.

Location

References

  1. ^ Davis Jr., G. A., "The Pronunciations, Derivations, and Meanings of a Selected List of Star Names,"Popular Astronomy, Vol. LII, No. 3, Oct. 1944, p. 12.
  2. ^ Allen, R. H. (1963). Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning (Reprint ed.). New York: Dover Publications Inc. p. 53. ISBN 0486210790. http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Topics/astronomy/_Texts/secondary/ALLSTA/Aquarius*.html. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 
  3. ^ ε Aqr as Nir Saad Bula or Lucida Fortunæ Dissipantis (the brightest of luck of the swallower) and the common name is Albali. μ Aqr and ν Aqr was already designated as the common name Albulaan, the plural form of al Bulaʽ
  4. ^ (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.
  5. ^ (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 5 月 14 日