Gamma Sagittae
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Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
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Constellation | Sagitta |
Right ascension | 19h 52m 06.36s |
Declination | +19° 29' 31.5" |
Apparent magnitude (V) | +3.51 |
Distance | 274 ly (84 pc) |
Spectral type | K5III |
Other designations | |
Gamma Sagittae (Gamma Sge, γ Sagittae, γ Sge) is the brightest star in constellation Sagitta and is an orange K-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +3.51. It is approximately 274 light years from Earth and radiates at a power 640 times that of Sun. With a mass of 2.5 times that of the Sun, Gamma Sagittae began life 750 million years ago as a white class B9 star.[1]
Gamma Sagittae is moving through the Galaxy at a speed of 42.9 km/s relative to the Sun. It is projected Galactic orbit carries it between 20,300 and 25,900 light years from the center of the Galaxy.[2]
Gamma Sagittae will come closest to the Sun 1.4 million years from now when it will brighten to magnitude 2.44 from a distance of 158 light years.[2]
Naming
In Chinese, 左旗 (Zuǒ Qí), meaning Left Flag, refers to an asterism consisting of γ Sagittae, α Sagittae, β Sagittae, δ Sagittae, ζ Sagittae, 13 Sagittae, 11 Sagittae, 14 Sagittae and ρ Aquilae. Consequently, γ Sagittae itself is known as 左旗五 (Zuǒ Qí wǔ, English: the Fifth Star of Left Flag.)[3]
References
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