Zeta Leonis

Adhafera, ζ Leo

Adhafera is the ζ star in the lion's mane
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Leo
Right ascension 10h 16m 41.4169s[1]
Declination 23° 25′ 02.318″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 3.443 [1]
Characteristics
Spectral type F0III [1]
U−B color index -0.19
B−V color index 0.31 [2]
Variable type Suspected
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv) -15.6 [1] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: 19.84 [1] mas/yr
Dec.: -7.30 [1] mas/yr
Parallax (π) 12.56 ± 0.78Perryman, M. A. C. et al. (1997), "The Hipparcos Catalogue", Astronomy & Astrophysics 323: L49–L52, Bibcode 1997A&A...323L..49P </ref> mas
Distance 260 ± 20 ly
(80 ± 5 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV) -1.06
Details
Mass 3 [3] M☉
Radius 10[3] R☉
Luminosity 207 [3] L☉
Temperature 7,030 [3] K
Metallicity ? Fe/H
Rotation 81 km/s [4]
Age ? ×107 years
Other designations
Adhafera, Aldhafera, Adhafara, ζ Leo, 36 Leo, HR 4031, BD +24°2209, HD 89025, FK5 384, HIP 50335, SAO 81265, GC 14107, NSV 04804, WDS 10167+2325A
Database references
SIMBAD data

Zeta Leonis (ζ Leo, ζ Leonis) is a fourth-magnitude star in the constellation Leo. It has the traditional name Adhafera (Aldhafera, Adhafara), from the Arabic الضفيرة al-ðafīrah "the braid/curl", a reference clearly to its position in the lion's mane.

Contents

Properties

Adhafera is a rare F Class giant star with stellar classification F0III. Its apparent magnitude is +3.44 making it a relatively faint star. Nevertheless, it shines with 207 times greater luminosity than the Sun. With 3 times the Sun's mass, Adhafera will have a relatively short lifespan and leave the main sequence approximately one million years from now when it evolves into an orange K Class giant.[3] The Hipparcos satellite has estimated the distance of Adhafera at 80 parsecs[5] from Earth, or 260 light years away.

Optical double

Adhafera has a visual double with an apparent magnitude of 5.90. Known as 35 Leo, it has a position angle of 340 degrees and is separated from the main star Adhafera by 325.9 arcseconds.[6][7] The two stars do not form a binary system as 35 Leo is only 100 light years from Earth.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "SIMBAD query result: zet Leo -- Variable Star". Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg. http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=zeta+leo&NbIdent=1&Radius=2&Radius.unit=arcmin&submit=submit+id. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
  2. ^ Mermilliod, J.-C. (1986). "Compilation of Eggen's UBV data, transformed to UBV (unpublished)". Catalogue of Eggen's UBV data. Bibcode 1986EgUBV........0M. 
  3. ^ a b c d e Professor James B. (Jim) Kaler. "ADHAFERA (Zeta Leonis)". University of Illinois. http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/Sow/adhafera.html. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
  4. ^ Royer, F.; Grenier, S.; Baylac, M.-O.; Gómez, A. E.; Zorec, J. (2002). "Rotational velocities of A-type stars in the northern hemisphere. II. Measurement of v sin i in the northern hemisphere" (PDF). Astronomy and Astrophysics 393 (3): 897–911. arXiv:astro-ph/0205255. Bibcode 2002A&A...393..897R. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20020943. 
  5. ^ Perryman, M. A. C.; Lindegren, L.; Kovalevsky, J.; Hoeg, E. et al (1997). "The HIPPARCOS Catalogue" (PDF). Astronomy and Astrophysics 323: L49–L52. Bibcode 1997A&A...323L..49P. 
  6. ^ "CCDM (Catalog of Components of Double & Multiple stars (Dommanget+ 2002)". VizieR. Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg. http://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-S?CCDM%20J10166%2b2327A. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 
  7. ^ "Adhafera". Alcyone Bright Star Catalogue. http://www.alcyone.de/SIT/mainstars/SIT000549.htm#Cat6. Retrieved 2010-05-12. 

External links

Stars of Leo
Bayer
Flamsteed
Nearby
Other