HD 36960

HD 36960

Orion Constellation
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Orion
Right ascension 5h 35m 02.6815s
Declination −06° 00 07.297
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.78
Characteristics
Spectral type B0.5V
U−B color index -1.01
B−V color index -0.25
Variable type None
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+27.7 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: -0.66 mas/yr
Dec.: 0.01 mas/yr
Parallax (π)2.02 ± 0.8 mas
Distance1,862.86 ly
(571.43 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)-4.00
Details
Mass15.66[1] M
Radius8.06 R
Luminosity27,663[1] L
Surface gravity (log g)4.10[2] cgs
Temperature29,000[2] K
Metallicity-0.10 (Fe/H)
Rotational velocity (v sin i)28[2] km/s
Other designations
HD 36960, HR 1887, HIP 26199, HIC 26199, IRAS 05325-0602, BD -06 1234, CCDM J05350-0600A, 2MASS J05350268-0600074, NGC 1997 493
Database references
SIMBADdata

HD 36960 is a B-type main-sequence star in the constellation Orion. At an apparent magnitude of +4.78 it is easily visible to the naked eye in many areas, though in most urban areas it cannot be seen due to light pollution. The star is also massive along with many other stars of Orion. At over 15 solar masses, it shines with nearly 40,000 times the Sun's luminosity due to its high surface temperature (29,000K). Due to its high mass, the star will expand into a blue supergiant in the next few million years and eventually a red supergiant after that. During this phase, the star will probably be a second or third magnitude star and easily viable to the naked eye (probably about as bright as Kappa Orionis (Saiph) is today). The ultimate fate of the star is most likely a Type II supernova. When it has fully exhausted its fuel, the core will produce heavier elements like Iron. Then, its core will become unstable and collapse with the rest of the star expanding outward in a luminous explosion. Such an event from this distance would shine brightly in Earth's sky. Assuming this event is identical to SN 1054, it would shine with an apparent magnitude of -8.71, about 1/40 as bright as the full moon despite its distance of over 1,800 light years.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Hohle, M. M.; Neuhäuser, R.; Schutz, B. F. (2010). "Masses and luminosities of O- and B-type stars and red supergiants". Astronomische Nachrichten 331 (4): 349. doi:10.1002/asna.200911355.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Maria-Fernanda Nieva (2012). "Temperature, gravity and bolometric correction scales for non-supergiant OB stars". arXiv:1212.0928v1 [astro-ph.SR].

External links