Theta Centauri

Theta Centauri
Diagram showing star positions and boundaries of the Centaurus constellation and its surroundings


Location of θ Centauri (circled)

Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Centaurus
Right ascension 14h 06m 40.94752s[1]
Declination –36° 22′ 11.8371″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) +2.06[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type K0 III[3]
U−B color index +0.90[2]
B−V color index +0.99[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+1.3[4] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: –520.53[1] mas/yr
Dec.: –518.06[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)55.45 ± 0.20[1] mas
Distance58.8 ± 0.2 ly
(18.03 ± 0.07 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)0.87[5]
Details
Radius10.6[6] R☉
Luminosity60[7] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)2.75[8] cgs
Temperature4,980[8] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]0.03[8] dex
Other designations
Menkent, Haratan, 5 Centauri, CD−35 9260, FK5 520, Gl 539, HD 123139, HIP 68933, HR 5288, LHS 2858, SAO 205188.[9]

Theta Centauri (θ Centauri, abbreviated Theta Cen, θ Cen), also named Menkent,[10] is a star in the southern constellation of Centaurus, the centaur. With an apparent visual magnitude of +2.06,[2] it is the fourth-brightest member of the constellation. Close enough so that its distance can be measured using the parallax technique, it is 58.8 light-years (18.0 parsecs) from the Sun.[1]

This is an evolved giant star with a stellar classification of K0 III.[3] The interferometry-measured angular diameter of this star, after correcting for limb darkening, is 5.46 ± 0.06 milliarcseconds,[11] which, at its estimated distance, equates to a physical radius of about 10.6 times the radius of the Sun.[6] The outer envelope has an effective temperature of 4,980 K,[8] giving it the orange-hued glow of a cool, K-type star.[12] Soft X-ray emission has been detected from this star, which has an estimated X-ray luminosity of 1.4 × 1027 erg s−1.[13]

Nomenclature

θ Centauri (Latinised to Theta Centauri) is the star's Bayer designation.

The traditional name Menkent is possibly an abbreviation of the Arabic ألمنكب ألقنتوس al mankib al-qanturis meaning "shoulder of the Centaur". In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)[14] to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN approved the name Menkent for this star on 21 August 2016 and it is now so entered in the IAU Catalog of Star Names.[10]

In Chinese, 庫樓 (Kù Lóu), meaning Arsenal, refers to an asterism consisting of Theta Centauri, Zeta Centauri, Eta Centauri, 2 Centauri, HD 117440, Xi¹ Centauri, Gamma Centauri, Tau Centauri, D Centauri and Sigma Centauri.[15] Consequently, Theta Centauri itself is known as 庫樓三 (Kù Lóu sān, English: the Third Star of Arsenal.)[16]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 van Leeuwen, F. (November 2007). "Validation of the new Hipparcos reduction". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 474 (2): 653–664. arXiv:0708.1752Freely accessible. Bibcode:2007A&A...474..653V. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078357.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, H. L.; et al. (1966). "UBVRIJKL photometry of the bright stars". Communications of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. 4 (99): 99. Bibcode:1966CoLPL...4...99J.
  3. 1 2 Gray, R. O.; et al. (July 2006), "Contributions to the Nearby Stars (NStars) Project: Spectroscopy of Stars Earlier than M0 within 40 parsecs: The Northern Sample I", The Astronomical Journal, 132 (1): 161–170, arXiv:astro-ph/0603770Freely accessible, Bibcode:2006AJ....132..161G, doi:10.1086/504637
  4. ↑ Wielen, R.; et al. (1999), "Sixth Catalogue of Fundamental Stars (FK6). Part I. Basic fundamental stars with direct solutions", Veröff. Astron. Rechen-Inst. Heidelb, Astronomisches Rechen-Institut Heidelberg, 35 (35), Bibcode:1999VeARI..35....1W
  5. ↑ Elgarøy, Øystein; Engvold, Oddbjørn; Lund, Niels (March 1999), "The Wilson-Bappu effect of the MgII K line - dependence on stellar temperature, activity and metallicity", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 343: 222–228, Bibcode:1999A&A...343..222E
  6. 1 2 Lang, Kenneth R. (2006), Astrophysical formulae, Astronomy and astrophysics library, 1 (3rd ed.), Birkhäuser, ISBN 3-540-29692-1. The radius (R*) is given by:
  7. ↑ Kaler, James B., "MENKENT (Theta Centauri)", Stars, University of Illinois, retrieved 2012-03-01
  8. 1 2 3 4 Jones, K. L.; et al. (June 1992), "Spectroscopic investigation of cool giants and the authenticity of their reported microwave emission", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 256 (3): 535–544, Bibcode:1992MNRAS.256..535J, doi:10.1093/mnras/256.3.535
  9. ↑ "LHS 2858 -- High proper-motion Star", SIMBAD Astronomical Object Database, Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg, retrieved 2012-03-01
  10. 1 2 "IAU Catalog of Star Names". Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  11. ↑ Richichi, A.; Percheron, I.; Khristoforova, M. (February 2005), "CHARM2: An updated Catalog of High Angular Resolution Measurements", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 431 (2): 773–777, Bibcode:2005A&A...431..773R, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20042039
  12. ↑ "The Colour of Stars", Australia Telescope, Outreach and Education, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, December 21, 2004, retrieved 2012-01-16
  13. ↑ Schroeder, K.-P.; Huensch, M.; Schmitt, J. H. M. M. (July 1998), "X-ray activity and evolutionary status of late-type giants", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 335: 591–595, Bibcode:1998A&A...335..591S
  14. ↑ "IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)". Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  15. ↑ (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.
  16. ↑ (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.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/23/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.