Theta Capricorni

Theta Capricorni, Latinized from θ Capricorni, is a binary star in the southern constellation of Capricornus,^[10] positioned 0.58° south of the ecliptic.^[11] Sometimes, this star is called by the name Dorsum,^[12] meaning the back (of the goat) in Latin. It can be seen with the naked eye, having an apparent visual magnitude of +4.07.^[2] Based upon an annual parallax shift of 20.11 mas as seen from the Earth,^[1] the star is about 162 light years from the Sun. It is drifting closer with a radial velocity of −11 km/s.^[4]

Theta Capricorni

Location of θ Capricorni (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation	Capricornus
Right ascension	21h 05m 56.82783s[1]
Declination	−17° 13′ 58.3021″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)	+4.07[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type	A1 V[3]
U−B color index	+0.01[2]
B−V color index	−0.01[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	−10.9[4] km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: +79.33[1] mas/yr Dec.: −62.01[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)	20.11±0.28 mas[1]
Distance	162 ± 2 ly (49.7 ± 0.7 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	+0.60[5]
Orbit[6]
Primary	A
Companion	B
Period (P)	143 days
Semi-major axis (a)	0.78 AU
Details[6]
A
Mass	2.54 M☉
Radius	2.35 R☉
Luminosity	65[7] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)	4.19±0.14[8] cgs
Temperature	10,221 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]	+0.26[5] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)	104[8] km/s
Age	280 Myr
B
Mass	0.56 M☉
Radius	0.52 R☉
Temperature	3,900 K
Age	280 Myr
Other designations
θ Cap, 23 Cap, BD−17°6174, FK5 1552, HD 200761, HIP 104139, HR 8075, SAO 164132[9]
Database references
SIMBAD	data

Characteristics

Radial velocity variations indicated it may be a binary star system,^[13] but when the system was examined in the infrared, no companion was detected.^[14] However, a companion was subsequently confirmed in 2023 by direct observations by an interferometer.^[6]

The main component of this system is an A-type main sequence star with a stellar classification of A1 V.^[3] Theta Capricorni has an estimated 2.54 times the mass of the Sun and around 2.35 times the Sun's radius. It is 280 million years old^[6] and is spinning fairly rapidly with a projected rotational velocity of 104 km/s.^[8] The star is radiating 65^[7] times the solar luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of around 10,000 K.^[6]

The secondary component does not have a known stellar classification, but is much smaller and cooler than its primary, with about 50% the mass and radius of the Sun, and a temperature of 3,900 K. It takes 140 days (4.6 months) to complete an orbit around the barycenter, and is separated from its primary by 0.78 astronomical units.^[6]

Night viewing

The star or star system is almost eclipsed by the Sun on about 3 February, when it will figure behind the Sun's corona if there is a full solar eclipse.^[15] Thus the star can be viewed the whole night, crossing the sky, in early August (in the current epoch).

Chinese name

In Chinese, 十二國 (Shíer Guó), meaning Twelve States, refers to an asterism which represents twelve ancient states in the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period, consisting of θ Capricorni, φ Capricorni, ι Capricorni, 38 Capricorni, 35 Capricorni, 36 Capricorni, χ Capricorni, 30 Capricorni, 33 Capricorni, ζ Capricorni, 19 Capricorni, 26 Capricorni, 27 Capricorni, 20 Capricorni, η Capricorni and 21 Capricorni.^[16] Consequently, the Chinese name for θ Capricorni itself is 秦一 (Qin yī, English: the First Star of Qin), meaning that this star (together with 30 Capricorni^[17]) and δ Serpentis in Right Wall of Heavenly Market Enclosure (asterism)^[18] represents the state Qin (秦) (or Tsin).^[19]