Zeta Centauri

ζ Centauri
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Centaurus
Right ascension 13h55m32.4s
Declination −47°17′18″
Apparent magnitude (V) 2.55
Characteristics
Spectral type B2.5IV
U−B color index −0.92
B−V color index −0.22
Variable type none
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv) +6.5 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −57.14 mas/yr
Dec.: −44.75 mas/yr
Parallax (π) 8.48 ± 0.74 mas
Distance 385 ly
(118 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV) −2.81
Other designations
Alnair, HR 5231, HD 121263, SAO 224538, CD−46°8949, CP−46°6560, HIP 68002, GC 18809
Database references
SIMBAD data

Zeta Centauri (ζ Centauri, ζ Cen) is a star in the constellation Centaurus. It has the proper name Alnair, from the scientific-Arabic[1] Nayyir Badan Qanṭūris (ألناير ألبطن ألقنتورس), meaning "The Bright (Star) of the Body of the Centaur".[2]

In Chinese, 庫樓 (Kù Lóu), meaning Arsenal, refers to an asterism consisting of ζ Centauri, η Centauri, θ Centauri, 2 Centauri, HD 117440, ξ1 Centauri, γ Centauri, τ Centauri, D Centauri and σ Centauri.[3] Consequently, ζ Centauri itself is known as 庫樓一 (Kù Lóu yī, English: the First Star of Arsenal.)[4]

ζ Cen is a spectroscopic binary star with a period of slightly more than eight days and an estimated orbital eccentricity of 0.5.[5]

References

  1. ^ Kunitzsch, P., & Smart, T., (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, MA: Sky Pub. p. 4. ISBN 9781931559447. 
  2. ^ ibid., p.28.
  3. ^ (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 9789867332257.
  4. ^ (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 25 日
  5. ^ A. C. Maury, 1922, "The Orbit of the Spectroscopic Binary ζ Centauri", Harvard College Observatory Circular, vol. 233.
Stars of Centaurus
Bayer
Flamsteed