Upsilon Carinae

υ Carinae A/B
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Carina
Right ascension 09h47m06.1s
Declination -65°04′19″
Apparent magnitude (V) +3.01/+6.26
Characteristics
Spectral type A6Ib/B7III
U−B color index 0.18
B−V color index 0.28
Variable type none
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv) 14 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: -11.55 mas/yr
Dec.: 4.97 mas/yr
Parallax (π) 2.01 ± 0.40 mas
Distance approx. 1600 ly
(approx. 500 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV) −5.56
Other designations
HR 3890/3891, HD 85123/85124, SAO 250695/250696, CP−64°1084, HIP 48002, GC 13506/13507, CCDM J09471-6504

Upsilon Carinae (υ Car, υ Carinae) is a binary star in the constellation Carina. It is part of the Diamond Cross asterism in southern Carina.

The Upsilon Carinae system has a combined apparent magnitude of +2.92 and is approximately 1623 light years from Earth.

In Chinese, 海石 (Hǎi Dàn), meaning Sea Rock, refers to an asterism consisting of υ Carinae, ε Carinae, ι Carinae, HD 83183 and HD 84810.[1] Consequently, υ Carinae itself is known as 海石五 (Hǎi Dàn wǔ, English: the Fifth Star of Sea Rock.)[2]

The primary component, υ Carinae A, is a white A-type supergiant with an apparent magnitude of +3.01. The companion, υ Carinae B, is a blue-white B-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +6.26. The two stars are 5 arcseconds apart.

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) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 28 日