Beta Serpentis

β Serpentis
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Serpens
Right ascension 15h 46m 11.3s
Declination +15° 25' 19"
Apparent magnitude (V) +3.65
Distance153 ± 6 ly
(47 ± 2 pc)
Spectral typeA3V
Other designations
Chow, 28 Serpentis,
HR 5867, HD 141003,
SAO 101725, HIP 77233,
ADS 9778, CCDM 15461+1525

Beta Serpentis (β Ser, β Serpentis) is a star system in the constellation Serpens, in its head (Serpens Caput). It was a member of indigenous Arabic asterism al-Nasaq al-Sha'āmī, "the Northern Line" of al-Nasaqān "the Two Lines",[1] along with β Her (Kornephoros), γ Her (Hejian, Ho Keen) and γ Ser (Zheng, Ching).[2]

According to the catalogue of stars in the Technical Memorandum 33-507 - A Reduced Star Catalog Containing 537 Named Stars, al-Nasaq al-Sha'āmī or Nasak Shamiya were the title for three stars :β Ser as Nasak Shamiya I, γ Ser as Nasak Shamiya II, γ Her as Nasak Shamiya III (exclude β Her)[3]

In Chinese, 天市右垣 (Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán), meaning Right Wall of Heavenly Market Enclosure, refers to an asterism which is represent eleven old states in China which is marking the right borderline of the enclosure, consisting of β Serpentis, β Herculis, γ Herculis, κ Herculis, γ Serpentis, δ Serpentis, α Serpentis, ε Serpentis, δ Ophiuchi, ε Ophiuchi and ζ Ophiuchi.[4] Consequently, β Serpentis itself is known as 天市右垣五 (Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán wu, English: the Fifth Star of Right Wall of Heavenly Market Enclosure), represent Zhou (鄭) (possibly Chow, the dynasty in China),[5][6][7] together with η Capricorni and 21 Capricorni in Twelve States (asterism).[8]

Properties

Beta Serpentis is approximately 150 light years from Earth and is a member of the Ursa Major Moving Group.

The primary component, Beta Serpentis A, is a white A-type main sequence dwarf with an apparent magnitude of +3.65. It has two companions, the magnitude +9.9 B, 31 arcseconds distant, and the magnitude +10.7 C, 201 arcseconds away.

References

  1. ↑ Kunitzsch, P., Smart, T., (2006). A Dictionary of Modern Star names: A Short Guide to 254 Star names and Their Derivations (Second Revised ed.). Cambridge, MA: Sky Publishing. p. 31. ISBN 1-931559-44-9.
  2. ↑ Allen, R. H. (1963). Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning (Reprint ed.). New York, NY: Dover Publications Inc. p. 243. ISBN 0-486-21079-0. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
  3. ↑ Jack W. Rhoads - Technical Memorandum 33-507-A Reduced Star Catalog Containing 537 Named Stars, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology; November 15, 1971
  4. ↑ (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.
  5. ↑ Star Names - R.H.Allen p.376
  6. ↑ (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 6 月 24 日
  7. ↑ (Chinese) English-Chinese Glossary of Chinese Star Regions, Asterisms and Star Name, Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.
  8. ↑ Star Names - R.H.Allen p.142