QS Virginis

QS Virginis
Observation data
Epoch {{{epoch}}}      Equinox
Constellation Virgo
Right ascension 13h 49m 51.95s
Declination -13° 13′ 37.5″
Apparent magnitude (V) +14.8
Characteristics
Spectral type DAm / M3.5V
Astrometry
Distance 156.48 ly
(48±5[1] pc)
Details
Mass 0.78/0.43[1] M
Radius 0.011/0.42[1] R
Luminosity 0.0044/0.015 L
Temperature 14,200/3,100 K
Orbit
Period (P) 0.0003847[1] yr
Semimajor axis (a) 0.0056 AU
Eccentricity (e) 0.0
Inclination (i) 60[1]°
Other designations
GSC 05559-00143, 1RXS J134951.0-131338, WD 1347-129, EC 13471-1258, GSC 05559-01397, SBC9 1944
Database references
SIMBAD data
NStED data
Extrasolar Planets
Encyclopaedia
data

QS Virginis (abbreviated QS Vir) is an eclipsing binary system approximately 157 light-years away from Sun[1], forming a cataclysmic variable. The system comprises an eclipsing white dwarf star and red dwarf star that orbit each other every 3.37 hours.[1]

Possible third body

In 2009 the discovery of an extrasolar planet in orbit around the binary star was announced, detected by variations in the timings of the eclipses of the two stars.[2] The planet was announced to have a minimum mass 6.4 times the mass of Jupiter, in an elliptical orbit 4.2 Astronomical Units away from binary.

Subsequent observations revealed that the timings were not following the pattern predicted by the planetary model. While the observed variations in eclipse times may be caused by a third body, the best fit model orbit is for an object with minimum mass 0.05 solar masses (about 50 times the mass of Jupiter) in a highly eccentric 14-year orbit.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g O'Donoghue et al.; Koen, C.; Kilkenny, D.; Stobie, R. S.; Koester, D.; Bessell, M. S.; Hambly, N.; MacGillivray, H. (2003). "The DA+dMe eclipsing binary EC13471-1258: its cup runneth over ... just". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 345 (2): 506–528. arXiv:astro-ph/0307144. Bibcode 2003MNRAS.345..506O. doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2003.06973.x. 
  2. ^ Qian, S.-B.; Liao, W.-P.; Zhu, L.-Y.; Dai, Z.-B.; Liu, L.; He, J.-J.; Zhao, E.-G.; Li, L.-J. (2009). "A giant planet in orbit around a magnetic-braking hibernating cataclysmic variable". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 401 (1): L34–L38. Bibcode 2010MNRAS.401L..34Q. doi:10.1111/j.1745-3933.2009.00780.x. 
  3. ^ Parsons, S. G.; Marsh, T. R.; Copperwheat, C. M.; Dhillon, V. S.; Littlefair, S. P.; Hickman, R. D. G.; Maxted, P. F. L.; Gänsicke, B. T.; Unda-Sanzana, E.; Colque, J. P.; Barraza, N.; Sánchez, N.; Monard, L. A. G. (2010). "Orbital Period Variations in Eclipsing Post Common Envelope Binaries". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 407 (4): 2362–2382. Bibcode 2010MNRAS.tmp.1073P. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17063.x. 

See also

Coordinates: 13h 49m 51.95s, −13° 13′ 37.5″