Gamma Velorum
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation | Vela |
| Right ascension | 08h 09m 31.95013s[1] |
| Declination | –47° 20′ 11.7108″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 1.83[2] (1.81 - 1.87[3]) |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | WC8 + O7.5[4] |
| U−B color index | −0.94[2] |
| B−V color index | −0.25[2] |
| Variable type | Wolf-Rayet[3] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +12 ± 1[5] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: –6.07[1] mas/yr Dec.: +10.43[1] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 2.92 ± 0.30[1] mas |
| Distance | 336+8 −7[6] pc |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | −4.23 + −5.63[6] |
| Details | |
| WR | |
| Mass | 9.0 ± 0.6[6] M☉ |
| Radius | 6 ± 3[6] R☉ |
| Luminosity (bolometric) | 170,000[6] L☉ |
| Temperature | 57,000[4] K |
| Age | 3.5[7] -5.5[8] Myr |
| O | |
| Mass | 28.5 ±1.1[6] M☉ |
| Radius | 17 ± 2[6] R☉ |
| Luminosity (bolometric) | 280,000[6] L☉ |
| Temperature | 35,000[4] K |
| Age | 3.5[7]-5.5[8] Myr |
| Orbit[9] | |
| Primary | O |
| Companion | WR |
| Period (P) | 78.53 ± 0.01 days |
| Semi-major axis (a) | 1.2[6] AU |
| Eccentricity (e) | 0.326 ± 0.01 |
| Inclination (i) | 65 ± 8° |
| Longitude of the node (Ω) | 248 ± 4° |
| Periastron epoch (T) | 2,450,120.5 ± 2 |
| Semi-amplitude (K1) (primary) |
38.4 ± 2 km/s |
| Semi-amplitude (K2) (secondary) |
122 ± 2 km/s |
| Other designations | |
|
Regor, Suhail[citation needed], Suhail Al-Muhlif[citation needed], CD −46° 3847, FK5 309, HD 68273, HIP 39953, HR 3207, SAO 219504, WR 11
|
|
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation | Vela |
| Right ascension | 08h 09m 29.3260s[10] |
| Declination | –47° 20′ 43.027″[10] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 4.27[11] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | B2III[7] |
| U−B color index | −0.92[11] |
| B−V color index | −0.22[11] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +9.7 ± 1[11] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: –0.6[12] mas/yr Dec.: +9.7[12] mas/yr |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | −3.62[7] |
| Details | |
| Mass | 14[7] M☉ |
| Age | 8[7] Myr |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Gamma Velorum (γ Vel, γ Velorum) is a multiple star system in the constellation Vela. At magnitude +1.7, it is one of the brightest stars in the night sky, and by far the closest and brightest Wolf-Rayet star. It has the traditional names Suhail and Suhail al Muhlif, which confusingly also apply to Lambda Velorum. It also has a more modern popular name Regor.
Distance
Gamma Velorum is close enough to have accurate parallax measurements as well as distance estimates by more indirect means. The Hipparcos parallax for γ2 implies a distance of 342 pc. A dynamical parallax derived from calculations of the orbital parameters gives a value of 336 pc, similar to spectrophotometric derivations. A VLTI interferometry measurement of the distance gives a slightly larger value of 368+38
−13 pc. All these distances are somewhat less than the commonly assumed distance of 450 pc for the Vela OB2 association which is the closest grouping of young massive stars.[13]
Components
The Gamma Velorum system is composed of at least four stars. The brightest member, γ² Velorum or γ Velorum A, is a spectroscopic binary composed of a blue supergiant of spectral class O7.5 (~30 M☉), and a massive Wolf-Rayet star (~9 M☉, originally ~35 M☉).[8] The binary has an orbital period of 78.5 days and separation varying from 0.8 to 1.6 astronomical units. The Wolf-Rayet star is likely to end its life in a Type Ib supernova explosion; it is one of the nearest supernova candidates to the Sun.[14] The Wolf Rayet star has traditionally been regarded as the primary since its emission lines dominate the spectrum, but the O star is visually brighter and also more luminous. For clarity, the components are now often referred to as WR and O.[6]
The bright (apparent magnitude +4.2) γ¹ Velorum or γ Velorum B, is a spectroscopic binary with a period of 1.48 days. Only the primary is detected and it is a blue-white giant. It is separated from the Wolf-Rayet binary by 41.2", easily resolved with binoculars.[7] The pair are too close to be separated without optical assistance, and they appear to the naked eye as a single star of apparent magnitude 1.72 (at the average brightness of γ2 of 1.83).
Gamma Velorum has several fainter companions that share a common motion and are likely to be members of the Vela OB2 association.[7] The magnitude +7.3 CD-46 3848 is a white F0 star at is 62.3 arcseconds from the A component. At 93.5 arcseconds is another binary star, an F0 star of magnitude +9.2.
γ Velorum is associated with several hundred pre main sequence stars within less than a degree. The ages of these stars would be at least 5 million years.[7]
Etymology
The medieval name Suhail (Al Suhail, Alsuhail, Suhail al Muhlif, Muliphein) is short for the Arabic سهيل المحلف suhayl al-muħlif "The glorious (star) of the oath".[citation needed]
The Chinese name for the star is 天社一 (Mandarin: tiān shè yī), which means "The First Star of the Celestial Altar."[citation needed]
The name Regor ("Roger" spelled in reverse) was invented as a practical joke by the Apollo 1 astronaut Gus Grissom for his fellow astronaut Roger Chaffee.[15]
Due to the exotic nature of its spectrum (bright emission lines in lieu of dark absorption lines) it is also dubbed the Spectral Gem of Southern Skies.[16]
See also
- Gamma Cassiopeiae, informally named Navi for astronaut Virgil Ivan "Gus" Grissom
- Iota Ursae Majoris, informally named Dnoces for astronaut Edward H. White II
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Apollo 15 Lunar Surface Journal, Post-landing Activities, commentary at 105:11:33
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
