46 Leonis Minoris
46 Leonis Minoris (abbreviated 46 LMi), formally named Praecipua /prɪˈsɪpjʊə/,[10] is the brightest star in the constellation of Leo Minor. It is of spectral class K0+III-IV and of magnitude 3.83. It is a red clump giant.[9] Based upon parallax measurements, its distance from the Sun is approximately 95 light-years. It is a suspected variable with an amplitude of about 0.05 magnitudes.[3]
Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Leo Minor |
Right ascension | 10h 53m 18.70487s[1] |
Declination | +34° 12′ 53.5375″[1] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 3.83[2] (3.79–3.84[3]) |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | K0+ III-IV[4] |
Astrometry | |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: +92.02[1] mas/yr Dec.: –285.82[1] mas/yr |
Parallax (π) | 34.38 ± 0.21[1] mas |
Distance | 94.9 ± 0.6 ly (29.1 ± 0.2 pc) |
Absolute magnitude (MV) | +1.45[5] |
Details | |
Mass | 1.69[6] M☉ |
Radius | 8.22 ± 0.22[2] R☉ |
Luminosity | 34 ± 2[2] L☉ |
Surface gravity (log g) | 2.96[2] cgs |
Temperature | 4,670[2] K |
Metallicity [Fe/H] | −0.20[7] dex |
Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 1.81[8] km/s |
Age | 6.76[9] Gyr |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
Nomenclature
46 Leonis Minoris is the star's Flamsteed designation. It is sometimes designated "o LMi" (not "ο LMi"), from Bode's catalogue of 1801. It was presumably intended to be designated α, as Francis Baily decided to letter each star brighter than magnitude 4.5, but the designation was missing from his catalogue, even though the dimmer β was included.[11]
It bore the traditional proper name Praecipua, derived from the Latin for "the Chief (Star of Leo Minor)".[12] The name may originally have referred to 37 Leonis Minoris, and later mistakenly transferred to this star.[13] In 2016, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)[14] to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN approved the name Praecipua for this star on 30 June 2017 and it is now so included in the List of IAU-approved Star Names.[10]
It is known as 勢四, "the Fourth (Star) of the Eunuch", in traditional Chinese astronomy.
References
- 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, S2CID 18759600
- Piau, L.; et al. (February 2011), "Surface convection and red-giant radius measurements", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 526: A100, arXiv:1010.3649, Bibcode:2011A&A...526A.100P, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201014442, S2CID 118533297
- Samus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007–2013)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S. 1. Bibcode:2009yCat....102025S.
- Keenan, Philip C.; McNeil, Raymond C. (1989). "The Perkins catalog of revised MK types for the cooler stars". Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 71: 245. Bibcode:1989ApJS...71..245K. doi:10.1086/191373.
- Mullan, D. J.; MacDonald, J. (2003). "Onset of Mass Loss in Red Giants: Association with an Evolutionary Event". The Astrophysical Journal. 591 (2): 1203. Bibcode:2003ApJ...591.1203M. doi:10.1086/375446.
- Lyubimkov, L. S.; Poklad, D. B. (2014). "Determining the effective temperatures of G- and K-type giants and supergiants based on observed photometric indices". Kinematics and Physics of Celestial Bodies. 30 (5): 244. arXiv:1412.6950. Bibcode:2014KPCB...30..244L. doi:10.3103/S0884591314050055. S2CID 118618820.
- Wittenmyer, Robert A.; Gao, Dongyang; Hu, Shao Ming; Villaver, Eva; Endl, Michael; Wright, Duncan (2015). "The Weihai Observatory Search for Close-in Planets Orbiting Giant Stars". Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 127 (956): 1021. arXiv:1507.06051. Bibcode:2015PASP..127.1021W. doi:10.1086/683258. S2CID 117305333.
- Hekker, S.; Meléndez, J. (2007). "Precise radial velocities of giant stars. III. Spectroscopic stellar parameters". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 475 (3): 1003. arXiv:0709.1145. Bibcode:2007A&A...475.1003H. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078233. S2CID 10436552.
- Soubiran, C.; Bienaymé, O.; Mishenina, T. V.; Kovtyukh, V. V. (2008). "Vertical distribution of Galactic disk stars. IV. AMR and AVR from clump giants". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 480 (1): 91–101. arXiv:0712.1370. Bibcode:2008A&A...480...91S. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078788. S2CID 16602121.
- "Naming Stars". IAU.org. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
- Wagman, Morton (2003). Lost Stars. Blacksburg, Virginia: McDonald and Woodward. ISBN 0-939923-78-5.
- Allen, R. H. (1963). Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning (Reprint ed.). New York, NY: Dover Publications Inc. p. 264. ISBN 0-486-21079-0.
- Leo Minor: The little lion- Ian Ridpath's Star Tales
- "IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)". Retrieved 22 May 2016.