Eta Ophiuchi

Eta Ophiuchi A/B
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Ophiuchus
Right ascension 17h 10m 22.7s
Declination -15° 43′ 29.7″
Apparent magnitude (V) 2.43 (3.0/3.5)
Characteristics
Spectral type A2.5 Va/A3 V
U−B color index 0.09
B−V color index 0.05
Variable type ?
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv) -2.4 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: 41.16 mas/yr
Dec.: 97.65 mas/yr
Parallax (π) 38.77 ± 0.86 mas
Distance 84.1 ly
(25.79 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV) 0.37
Details
Mass 2.3/2.0 M
Radius 2.5/2.0 R
Luminosity 35/21 L
Temperature 8900/8600 K
Metallicity ?
Rotation 30 km/s.
Age ? years
Other designations
35 Oph, Gl 656.1A/B, HD 155125, HR 6378, BD -15°4467, GCTP 3895.00, SAO 160332, HIP 84012
Database references
SIMBAD data

Eta Ophiuchi, also known as η Oph or η Ophiuchi, is a star in the constellation Ophiuchus. It also has the traditional name Sabik.

In Chinese, this star is considered part of 天市左垣 (Tiān Shì Zuǒ Yuán), meaning Left Wall of Heavenly Market Enclosure, which refers to an asterism (pattern of stars) representing eleven old states in China that mark the left borderline of the enclosure, consisting of η Ophiuchi, δ Herculis, λ Herculis, μ Herculis, ο Herculis, 112 Herculis, ζ Aquilae, θ1 Serpentis, η Serpentis, ν Ophiuchi and ξ Serpentis.[1] Consequently, η Ophiuchi itself is known as 天市左垣十一 (Tiān Shì Zuǒ Yuán shíyī, English: the Eleventh Star of Left Wall of Heavenly Market Enclosure), representing the state Song(宋).[2][3]

Properties

η Oph is actually a binary star system that is difficult to resolve in amateur telescopes but whose true nature has been determined through use of more advanced techniques. The "primary" star (whose observational data make up the table in this article), which could nominally be referred to as η Oph A, is actually only slightly larger and warmer than its companion, η Oph B. Individually each star is a fairly unremarkable A class main sequence star, but as a binary pair they are unusual. Each star orbits around a common center in a very fast and highly elliptical orbit, making planetary formation impossible in this system and some stellar data imprecise.

η Oph is the northern pole star of the planet Uranus.

Namesakes

USS Sabik (AK-121) was a United States Navy Crater class cargo ship named after the star.

References

  1. ^ (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.
  2. ^ (Chinese) 香港太空館 - 研究資源 - 亮星中英對照表, Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.
  3. ^ (Chinese) English-Chinese Glossary of Chinese Star Regions, Asterisms and Star Name, Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.