Theta Ursae Minoris

Theta Ursae Minoris, Latinized from θ Ursae Minoris, is a suspected binary star system that is visible to the naked eye in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Minor. It is roughly 860 light years from Earth with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.0.^[2] The system is moving closer to the Sun with a radial velocity of −25 km/s.^[5]

θ Ursae Minoris

Location of θ Ursae Minoris (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Ursa Minor
Right ascension	15h 31m 25.05417s[1]
Declination	+77° 20′ 57.6199″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)	4.982[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type	K5-III CN0.5[3]
B−V color index	+1.553[2]
Variable type	suspected[4]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	−25.3±0.5[5] km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: −47.55±0.37[1] mas/yr Dec.: +5.33±0.43[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)	3.81±0.37 mas[1]
Distance	860 ± 80 ly (260 ± 30 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	−2.04[6]
Details
Radius	96[7] R☉
Luminosity	1,618[8] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)	1.44±0.23[9] cgs
Temperature	3,962±36[9] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]	+0.18±0.06[9] dex
Other designations
θ UMi, 15 Ursae Minoris, BD+77°592, FK5 3229, HD 139669, HIP 76008, HR 5826, SAO 8274[10]
Database references
SIMBAD	data

This is a probable spectroscopic binary with two roughly equal components. ^[11] The spectrum matches a stellar classification of K5-III CN0.5,^[3] which would normally indicate an evolved, orange-hued giant star of type K that has a mild overabundance of cyanogen in the outer atmosphere. The estimated diameter is around 96 times that of the Sun,^[7] and it is radiating approximately 1,618^[8] times the Sun's luminosity from an expanded photosphere at an effective temperature of 3,962 K.^[9]

Photometry from the Hipparcos satellite mission shows that θ Ursae Minoris varies in brightness by a few hundredths of a magnitude. It is listed as NSV 20342 in the New Catalogue of Suspected Variable Stars.^[12]