95 Herculis

95 Herculis, also named Bodu,^[12] is a double stellar system in the constellation Hercules, located 432 light-years from Earth.

95 Herculis

Location of 95 Herculis in Hercules (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Hercules
A
Right ascension	18h 01m 30.40868s[1]
Declination	+21° 35′ 44.8121″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)	4.83±0.01[2]
B
Right ascension	18h 01m 29.96397s[3]
Declination	+21° 35′ 43.4043″[3]
Apparent magnitude (V)	5.10[4]
Characteristics
A
Evolutionary stage	Giant star[5] or subgiant[2]
Spectral type	A2IV[2]
B
Evolutionary stage	Horizontal branch[6]
Spectral type	G5III[4]
Astrometry
A
Radial velocity (Rv)	−44.86±3.07[1] km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: +9.200 mas/yr[1] Dec.: +38.438 mas/yr[1]
Parallax (π)	7.5526±0.0713 mas[1]
Distance	432 ± 4 ly (132 ± 1 pc)
B
Radial velocity (Rv)	−32.9±0.12[3] km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: +8.995 mas/yr[3] Dec.: +36.267 mas/yr[3]
Parallax (π)	7.5492±0.0592 mas[3]
Distance	432 ± 3 ly (132 ± 1 pc)
Details
A
Mass	3.1[7] M☉
Radius	6.0[8] R☉
Luminosity	156[7] L☉
Temperature	8,211[8] K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)	233[9] km/s
B
Mass	3.2[5] M☉
Radius	16.5[8] R☉
Luminosity	172[3] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)	2.77[10] cgs
Temperature	5,037[10] K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)	5.7[11] km/s
Age	979[10] Myr
Other designations
Bodu, 95 Her, HIP 88267, ADS 10993, WDS J18015+2136
A: HD 164669, HR 6730, ADS 10993, TIC 424429430, TYC 1566-3674-1
B: HD 164668, HR 6729, TIC 424429431, TYC 1566-3675-1
Database references
SIMBAD	data
	A
	B

Nomenclature

95 Herculis is the star's Flamsteed designation. This star, together with 93 Herculis, 102 Herculis, and 109 Herculis, formed the now obsolete constellation of Cerberus.^[13]

In Chinese astronomy, 95 Herculis and 102 Herculis form the asterism Bó Dù (帛度, "Textile Ruler").^[14] The IAU Working Group on Star Names approved the name Bodu for this star on 17 June 2025 and it is now so entered in the IAU Catalog of Star Names.^[12]

Characteristics

From the naked eye, 95 Herculis appears as a single star shining at apparent magnitude 4.31. However, when further scrutinized using a telescope, it is revealed to be a double star, with two components separated by 6.3 arcseconds. This system has a color contrast due to the difference of each star's effective temperature.^[5]

The brightest component, called 95 Herculis A, is a white giant^[6] or subgiant with an apparent magnitude of 4.8.^[2] This evolved star has 3.1 times more mass than the Sun, is six times wider, and is 156 times more luminous. Its effective temperature of 8,211 K give it a blue-white hue typical of A-type stars. It is spinning rapidly with an projected rotational velocity of 233 km/s.

The secondary is called 95 Herculis B, a yellow giant^[6] of apparent magnitude 5.1.^[4] It is the most evolved star in the pair, having reached the helium burning stage, while 95 Herculis A is still in the transition from hydrogen burning to helium burning.^[6] Albeit fainter than 95 Her A, 95 Her B emits a significant part of its luminosity in the infrared, and hence the bolometric luminosity is 172 times solar. It is 3.2 times more massive than the Sun and 16.5 times wider. The effective temperature of the star is 5,037 K.

Orbit

The orbital elements of 95 Herculis are not accurately known and no orbital motion has been detected. However, their projected separation is calculated at 900 astronomical units, with an orbital period of at least 11,000 years.^[5]

See also

• Albireo
• Gamma Andromedae
• Gamma Leonis