Delta Apodis

Delta Apodis is a double star in the southern constellation of Apus. Its identifier is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from δ Apodis, and abbreviated Del Aps or δ Aps, respectively. Based on parallax measurements, the distance to δ¹ Apodis is approximately 620 light years,^[2] while δ² Apodis is found to be around 563 light years from Earth.^[4] They may form a common proper motion pair.^{[citation needed]}

A light curve for Delta¹ Apodis, plotted from Hipparcos data^[11]

δ Apodis

Location of δ Apodis (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Apus[1]
δ1 Aps
Right ascension	16h 20m 20.802s[2]
Declination	−78° 41′ 44.69″[2]
Apparent magnitude (V)	4.66 to 4.87[3]
δ2 Aps
Right ascension	16h 20m 26.858s[4]
Declination	−78° 40′ 02.99″[4]
Apparent magnitude (V)	+5.27[5]
Characteristics
δ1 Aps
Spectral type	M5 IIIb[6]
U−B color index	+1.680±0.110[1]
B−V color index	+1.69[5]
Variable type	LB?[3]
δ2 Aps
Spectral type	K3 III[6]
U−B color index	+1.62[5]
B−V color index	+1.413±0.012[1]
Astrometry
δ1 Aps
Radial velocity (Rv)	−12.0[7] km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: −9.678 mas/yr[2] Dec.: −37.147 mas/yr[2]
Parallax (π)	5.2508±0.1942 mas[2]
Distance	620 ± 20 ly (190 ± 7 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	−2.16[1]
δ2 Aps
Radial velocity (Rv)	−10.2[8] km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: −1.817 mas/yr[2] Dec.: −31.511 mas/yr[2]
Parallax (π)	5.795 ± 0.0902 mas[2]
Distance	563 ± 9 ly (173 ± 3 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	−1.10[1]
Other designations
CPD−78 1092, FK5 1424, HR 6020[9][10]
δ1 Aps: HD 145366, HIP 80047, SAO 257380[9]
δ2 Aps: HD 145388, HIP 80057, SAO 257381[10]
Database references
SIMBAD	δ1 Aps
	δ2 Aps

The brighter star, δ¹ Apodis, has an apparent magnitude that varies from +4.66 to +4.87.^[12] It is a red giant with a stellar classification of M5 IIIb,^[6] and is classified as a semiregular variable with pulsations of multiple periods of 68.0, 94.9 and 101.7 days.^[13] δ² Apodis has an apparent magnitude of +5.27 and is an orange K-type giant with a class of K3 III.^[6] Both stars are bright enough to be seen with the naked eye under good observing conditions. The pair have an angular separation of 103.4 arcseconds (as of 2016),^[14] which is wide enough to allow them to be seen individually by a person with good eyesight.

Naming

In Chinese caused by adaptation of the European southern hemisphere constellations into the Chinese system, 異雀 (Yì Què), meaning Exotic Bird, refers to an asterism consisting of δ¹ Apodis, ζ Apodis, ι Apodis, β Apodis, γ Apodis, δ Octantis, η Apodis, α Apodis and ε Apodis. Consequently, δ¹ Apodis itself is known as 異雀六 (Yì Què liù, English: the Sixth Star of Exotic Bird.)^[15]