Nu Aquarii

ν Aquarii
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Aquarius
Right ascension 21h 09m 35.6477s
Declination -11° 22′ 18.095″
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.519
Characteristics
Spectral type G8III
U−B color index 0.7
B−V color index 0.94
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv) -11.8 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: 92.31 mas/yr
Dec.: -15.76 mas/yr
Parallax (π) 19.93 ± 0.77 mas
Distance 164 ± 6 ly
(50 ± 2 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV) 5.752
Details
Mass 1.1 M
Radius 1.1 R
Luminosity 1.2 L
Temperature 5,000–6,000 K
Other designations
Albulaan, 13 Aquarii, HD 201381, BD-11° 5538, HIP 104459, HR 8093, SAO 164182.
Database references
SIMBAD data

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

In Chinese, 天壘城 (Tiān Lěi Chéng), meaning Celestial Ramparts, refers to an asterism consisting of ν Aquarii, ξ Aquarii, 46 Capricorni, 47 Capricorni, λ Capricorni, 50 Capricorni, 18 Aquarii, 29 Capricorni, 9 Aquarii, 8 Aquarii, 14 Aquarii, 17 Aquarii and 19 Aquarii.[4] Consequently, ν Aquarii itself is known as 天壘城十 (Tiān Lěi Chéng shí, English: the Tenth Star of Celestial Ramparts.)[5]

Nu Aquarii is a yellow G-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +4.50. It is approximately 164 light years from Earth.

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 15 日