Gamma Canis Minoris

γ Canis Minoris
Location of γ Canis Minoris (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Canis Minor
Right ascension 07h 28m 09.794s[1]
Declination +08° 55′ 31.89″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) +4.33[2] (4.46 + 6.66)[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type K3 III Fe-0.5[3] (K4 III + K1: III)[2]
U−B color index +1.53[4]
B−V color index +1.43[4]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)46.8±0.3[5] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −62.112 mas/yr[1]
Dec.: −11.141 mas/yr[1]
Parallax (π)3.134±0.1714 mas[1]
Distance1,040 ± 60 ly
(320 ± 20 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−0.5±0.1[2]
Absolute magnitude (MV)1.7±0.2[2]
Orbit[2]
Period (P)389.310±0.012d
Semi-major axis (a)17 mas
Eccentricity (e)0.25856±0.00039
Inclination (i)66°
Periastron epoch (T)2449849.172±0.089 HJD
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
142.079±0.090°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
21.243±0.010 km/s
Semi-amplitude (K2)
(secondary)
21.526±0.017 km/s
Details[2]
γ CMi A
Mass1.88 M
Radius36.8±2.6 R
Luminosity321±33 L
Temperature4,036±100 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)5±2 km/s
Age1.3 Gyr
γ CMi B
Mass1.85 M
Radius7.8±1.0 R
Luminosity25.4±5.2 L
Temperature4,658±200 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)2.0±2.0 km/s
Other designations
γ CMi, 4 CMi, BD+09°1660, GC 9974, HD 58972, HIP 36284, HR 2854, SAO 115478, ADS 6100, CCDM 07281+0856, WDS J07282+0856A[6]
Database references
SIMBADdata

Gamma Canis Minoris is a binary star system in the equatorial constellation Canis Minor. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from γ Canis Minoris, and abbreviated Gamma CMi or γ CMi. The orange colour is obvious when seen through binoculars.[7] The system is visible to the naked eye with a combined apparent visual magnitude of +4.33.[2] Based upon an annual parallax shift of 3.13 mas as seen from Earth,[1] this system is located at a distance of approximately 1,040 light-years (320 pc) from the Sun. It is drifting further away with a line of sight velocity of 47 km/s.[5]

This spectroscopic binary star system has an orbital period of 389.31 days, a semimajor axis of 1.48 AU, and an eccentricity of 0.2586.[2] Their variable radial velocity was discovered by H. M. Reese in 1902 at Lick Observatory.[8] Both components are evolved, K-type giant stars, most likely on their first ascent along the red giant branch. The primary, component A, has a stellar classification of K4 III while the secondary, component B, may be K1: III.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Vallenari, A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (2023), "Gaia Data Release 3. Summary of the content and survey properties", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 674: A1, arXiv:2208.00211, Bibcode:2023A&A...674A...1G, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202243940, S2CID 244398875. Gaia DR3 record for this source at VizieR.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Fekel, F. C.; et al. (March 2013), "The spectroscopic orbit of the K-giant binary γ Canis Minoris", Astronomische Nachrichten, 334 (3): 223, Bibcode:2013AN....334..223F, CiteSeerX 10.1.1.300.8819, doi:10.1002/asna.201211842, S2CID 15851265.
  3. ^ Keenan, Philip C.; McNeil, Raymond C. (1989), "The Perkins catalog of revised MK types for the cooler stars", Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 71: 245, Bibcode:1989ApJS...71..245K, doi:10.1086/191373.
  4. ^ a b Johnson, H. L. (1966), "UBVRIJKL Photometry of the Bright Stars", Communications of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, 4: 99, Bibcode:1966CoLPL...4...99J.
  5. ^ a b de Bruijne, J. H. J.; Eilers, A.-C. (October 2012), "Radial velocities for the HIPPARCOS-Gaia Hundred-Thousand-Proper-Motion project", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 546: 14, arXiv:1208.3048, Bibcode:2012A&A...546A..61D, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201219219, S2CID 59451347, A61.
  6. ^ "gam CMi", SIMBAD, Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg, retrieved 2017-09-03.
  7. ^ Kambič, Bojan (2009), Viewing the Constellations with Binoculars: 250+ Wonderful Sky Objects to See and Explore, Springer, p. 32, ISBN 978-0387853543.
  8. ^ Campbell, W. W. (September 1902), "Six stars whose velocities in the line of sight are variable", Astrophysical Journal, 16: 114–117, Bibcode:1902ApJ....16..114C, doi:10.1086/140954, S2CID 123054295.