Theta Aquarii

Theta Aquarii
Diagram showing star positions and boundaries of the Aquarius constellation and its surroundings


Location of θ Aquarii (circled)

Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Aquarius
Right ascension 22h 16m 50.03635s[1]
Declination –07° 46 59.8480[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.175[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type G8 III–IV[3]
U−B color index +0.818[2]
B−V color index +0.983[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)–13.77 ± 0.17[4] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +118.80[1] mas/yr
Dec.: –22.18[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)17.40 ± 0.23[1] mas
Distance187 ± 2 ly
(57.5 ± 0.8 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+0.23[3]
Details
Mass2.39[5] to 2.78[3] M
Radius12[4] R
Luminosity72[4] to 83[3] L
Surface gravity (log g)2.8[4] cgs
Temperature4,864[4] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]+0.01[4] to +0.09[3] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)1.6[4] km/s
Age437[3] Myr
Other designations
Ancha, 43 Aquarii, BD–08 5845, FK5 840, HD 211391, HIP 110003, HR 8499, SAO 145991.[6]

Theta Aquarii (θ Aqr, θ Aquarii) is the bayer designation for a star in the equatorial constellation of Aquarius. It has the traditional name Ancha; Medieval Latin for "the haunch". Visible to the naked eye at apparent magnitude 4.175,[2] it is located at a distance of around 187 light-years (57 parsecs) from Earth.[1] Since it is near the ecliptic it can be occulted by the Moon, or very rarely by planets.

In Chinese, (), meaning Weeping, refers to an asterism consisting of θ Aquarii and ρ Aquarii.[7] Consequently, θ Aquarii itself is known as 泣二 (Qì èr, English: the Second Star of Weeping.).[8] Possibly, the name Lei meaning tears (weeping) in Chinese, was appear from the Chinese name for this star[9]

Ancha belongs to the spectral class G8 with a luminosity class of III–IV suggesting that, at an age of 437[3] million years, this star is part way between the subgiant and giant stages of its evolution. Estimates of the star's mass range from 2.39[5] to 2.78[3] times the Sun's mass, with a radius of about 12[4] times that of the Sun. It is radiating from 72[4] to 83[3] times as much luminosity as the Sun from its enlarged outer envelope at an effective temperature of 4,864 K.[4] At this heat, the star glows with the yellow hue of a G-type star.[10]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 van Leeuwen, F. (November 2007), "Validation of the new Hipparcos reduction", Astronomy and Astrophysics 474 (2): 653–664, arXiv:0708.1752, Bibcode:2007A&A...474..653V, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078357.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Gutierrez-Moreno, Adelina et al. (1966). "A System of photometric standards" 1. Publicaciones Universidad de Chile, Department de Astronomy. pp. 1–17. Bibcode:1966PDAUC...1....1G.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Takeda, Yoichi et al. (August 2008), "Stellar Parameters and Elemental Abundances of Late-G Giants", Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan 60 (4): 781–802, arXiv:0805.2434, Bibcode:2008PASJ...60..781T, doi:10.1093/pasj/60.4.781.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Massarotti, Alessandro et al. (January 2008), "Rotational and Radial Velocities for a Sample of 761 HIPPARCOS Giants and the Role of Binarity", The Astronomical Journal 135 (1): 209–231, Bibcode:2008AJ....135..209M, doi:10.1088/0004-6256/135/1/209.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Pizzolato, N.; Maggio, A.; Sciortino, S. (September 2000), "Evolution of X-ray activity of 1-3 Msun late-type stars in early post-main-sequence phases", Astronomy and Astrophysics 361: 614–628, Bibcode:2000A&A...361..614P.
  6. "tet Aqr -- Star", SIMBAD Astronomical Object Database (Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg), retrieved 2012-06-30.
  7. (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.
  8. (Chinese) 香港太空館 - 研究資源 - 亮星中英對照表, Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.
  9. Richard Hinckley Allen: Star Names — Their Lore and Meaning: Aquarius
  10. "The Colour of Stars", Australia Telescope, Outreach and Education (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), December 21, 2004, retrieved 2012-01-16.

External links