Xi Cephei

Xi Cephei
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Cepheus
Right ascension 22h 03m 47.455s[1]
Declination +64° 37′ 40.71″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.29[2]
Astrometry
Proper motion (μ) RA: 215.46 ± 1.14[1] mas/yr
Dec.: 91.06 ± 0.97[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)38.10 ± 2.81[3] mas
Distance86 ± 6 ly
(26 ± 2 pc)
Other designations
17 Cep, HR 8417, HD 209790, SAO 19827, HIP 108917.
Database references
SIMBADdata

Xi Cephei (ξ Cep, ξ Cephei) is a star in the constellation Cepheus. It has the traditional name Kurhah or Alkirdah or Al Kirduh,[4] the name coming from Qazvini who gave Al Ḳurḥaḥ (القرحة - al-qurhah), an Arabic word Ideler translated as a white spot, or blaze, in the face of a horse. Allen indicates that Ideler felt this was not a proper name for a star, and suggested the name Al Ḳirdah (ألقردة - al qírada), the Ape.[5] Xi Cephei belongs to spectral class A3/6Vm and has apparent magnitude +4.29. It is approximately 86 light years from Earth.[3]

Coordinates (equinox J2000.0):

It is a spectroscopic binary.

In Chinese, 天鈎 (Tiān Gōu), meaning Celestial Hook, refers to an asterism consisting of ξ Cephei, 4 Cephei, HD 194298, η Cephei, θ Cephei, α Cephei, 26 Cephei, ι Cephei and ο Cephei.[6] Consequently, ξ Cephei itself is known as 天鈎六 (Tiān Gōu liù, English: the Sixth Star of Celestial Hook.).[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 van Leeuwen, F. (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.Vizier catalog entry
  2. ↑ "* ksi Cep -- Double or multiple star". SIMBAD. Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Farrington, C. D. et al. (2014). "Separated Fringe Packet Observations with the CHARA Array. II. omega Andromeda, HD 178911, and xi Cephei.". The Astronomical Journal 148 (3). 48. arXiv:1407.0639. Bibcode:2014AJ....148...48F. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/148/3/48.
  4. ↑ Islamic Crescent Project: Star names
  5. ↑ Allen, R. H. (1963). Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning (Reprint ed.). New York: Dover Publications Inc. p. 159. ISBN 0-486-21079-0. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
  6. ↑ (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.
  7. ↑ (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.