Theta Tauri

Binary star in the constellation Taurus From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Theta Tauri

Theta Tauri (θ Tauri, abbreviated Theta Tau, θ Tau) is a wide double star in the constellation of Taurus and a member of the Hyades open cluster.

Quick Facts Apparent magnitude (V), Characteristics ...
θ Tauri
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Hyades showing θ Tauri
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Taurus
θ1 Tauri
Right ascension 04h 28m 34.49209s[1]
Declination +15° 57 44.2832[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) +3.84
θ2 Tauri
Right ascension 04h 28m 39.74455s[1]
Declination +15° 52 15.1226[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) +3.35 - 3.42[3]
Characteristics
θ1 Tauri
Spectral type G9 III Fe-0.5[4]
θ2 Tauri
Spectral type A7 III[5]
Variable type δ Scuti[3]
Astrometry
θ1 Tauri
Parallax (π)21.4183±0.3731 mas[1]
Distance152 ± 3 ly
(46.7 ± 0.8 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+0.416[6]
θ2 Tauri
Parallax (π)20.8354 ± 0.3731 mas[2]
Distance157 ± 3 ly
(48.0 ± 0.9 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+0.08[7]
Orbit[8]
PrimaryA
CompanionB
Period (P)5,997 days
Eccentricity (e)0.64
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
8.39 km/s
Orbit[9]
PrimaryAa
CompanionAb
Period (P)140.7302 days
Semi-major axis (a)18.91″
Eccentricity (e)0.7360
Inclination (i)47.8°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
32.95 km/s
Semi-amplitude (K2)
(secondary)
43.68 km/s
Details
Aa
Mass2.86[10] M
Radius4.4[10] R
Luminosity59[9] L
Surface gravity (log g)3.6[10] cgs
Temperature7,800[10] K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)68.4[9] km/s
Ab
Mass2.16[10] M
Radius2.7[10] R
Luminosity21[9] L
Temperature7,800[9] K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)113[9] km/s
Age650[9] Myr
θ1 Tauri
Mass2.67[11] M
Radius9.42±0.22[12] R
Luminosity47.7±2.3[12] L
Surface gravity (log g)3.21[11] cgs
Temperature4,940±55[12] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]+0.14[11] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)1.40[11] km/s
Age510[11] Myr
Other designations
θ Tauri
θ1 Tauri: 77 Tauri, BD+15 631, HD 28307, HIP 20885, HR 1411, SAO 93955
θ2 Tauri: Chamukuy, 78 Tauri, BD+15 632, HD 28319, HIP 20894, HR 1412, SAO 93957
Database references
SIMBADθ1 Tauri
θ2 Tauri
Close

θ Tauri is composed of two 3rd magnitude stars, designated Theta1 Tauri (Theta Tauri B) and Theta2 Tauri (Theta Tauri A). Theta² is brighter, hence the pair are sometimes referred to as Theta Tauri B and A, respectively. They are separated by 5.62 arcminutes (0.094°) on the sky. Based upon parallax measurements, Theta¹ Tauri is located at a distance of 152 ly (47 pc), while Theta² Tauri is at a distance of 157 light-years (48 parsecs). θ Tauri A and B are both spectroscopic binaries; the four components are designated Theta Tauri Aa (formally named Chamukuy /ˈɑːmki/), Ab, Ba, and Bb.

Nomenclature

Summarize
Perspective
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The θ Tauri pair, showing contrasting blue and yellow colors, in the Hyades cluster. In this image, θ1 Tauri is above in yellow, and θ2 Tauri is below in light blue.

θ Tauri (Latinised to Theta Tauri) is the double star's Bayer designation;[citation needed] θ1 Tauri and θ2 Tauri those of its two constituents. The designations of the two constituents as Theta Tauri A and B, and those of the four components - Theta Tauri Aa, Ab, Ba and Bb - derive from the convention used by the Washington Multiplicity Catalog (WMC) for multiple star systems, and adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).[13]

In the mythology of the Maya peoples, Theta Tauri is known as Chamukuy, meaning a small bird in the Yucatec Maya language.[14] In 2016, the IAU organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)[15] to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN decided to attribute proper names to individual stars rather than entire multiple systems.[16] It approved the name Chamukuy for the component Theta Tauri Aa on 5 September 2017 and it is now so included in the List of IAU-approved Star Names.[17]

In Chinese, 畢宿 (Bì Xiù), meaning Net, refers to an asterism consisting of Theta² Tauri, Epsilon Tauri (named Ain), Delta³ Tauri, Delta¹ Tauri, Gamma Tauri, Alpha Tauri (Aldebaran), 71 Tauri and Lambda Tauri.[18] Consequently, the Chinese name for Theta² Tauri itself is 畢宿六 (Bì Xiù liù), "the Sixth Star of Net".[19]

Properties

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A light curve for Theta2 Tauri, plotted from TESS data[20]

Theta Tauri A has a mean apparent magnitude of +3.40. It is classified as a Delta Scuti type variable star and its brightness varies from magnitude +3.35 to +3.42 with a period of 1.82 hours.[21] Its primary component, Theta Tauri Aa, is a white A-type giant. The secondary, Theta Tauri Ab, is of the 6th magnitude and is 0.005 arcseconds, or at least 2 AU, distant. It completes an orbit once every 141 days.

Theta Tauri B is the dimmer constituent. Its primary component, Theta Tauri Ba, is an orange K-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +3.84. The secondary, Theta Tauri Bb, is of the 7th-magnitude. It has a mass of 1.31 M and orbits the primary every 16.26 years on a fairly eccentric (at 0.570) orbit.[22]

References

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