Beta Aurigae
Beta Aurigae (Latinized from β Aurigae, abbreviated Beta Aur, β Aur), officially named Menkalinan /mɛŋˈkælɪnæn/, is a binary star system in the northern constellation of Auriga. The combined apparent visual magnitude of the system is 1.9, making it the second-brightest member of the constellation after Capella. Using the parallax measurements made during the Hipparcos mission, the distance to this star system can be estimated as 81.1 light-years (24.9 parsecs), give or take a half-light-year margin of error.
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Auriga |
| Right ascension | 05h 59m 31.72293s |
| Declination | +44° 56′ 50.7573″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 1.89 - 1.98 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | A1m IV + A1m IV |
| U−B color index | +0.05 |
| B−V color index | +0.03 |
| R−I color index | –0.01 |
| Variable type | Algol variable |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | –18.2 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: –56.44 mas/yr Dec.: –0.95 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 40.21 ± 0.23 mas |
| Distance | 81.1 ± 0.5 ly (24.9 ± 0.1 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | 0.55/0.76 |
| Orbit | |
| Period (P) | 3.96004 days |
| Eccentricity (e) | 0.0 |
| Inclination (i) | 76.0 ± 0.4° |
| Periastron epoch (T) | 54539.0162 ± 0.0003 reduced HJD |
| Semi-amplitude (K1) (primary) | 108.053 ± 0.072 km/s |
| Semi-amplitude (K2) (secondary) | 110.911 ± 0.071 km/s |
| Details | |
| β Aur Aa | |
| Mass | 2.389 ± 0.013 M☉ |
| Radius | 2.77 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 55 L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 3.93 cgs |
| Temperature | 9,350 K |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 33 km/s |
| Age | 570 Myr |
| β Aur Ab | |
| Mass | 2.327 ± 0.013 M☉ |
| Radius | 2.63 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 47 L☉ |
| Temperature | 9,200 K |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 34 km/s |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
It is moving closer to the Sun, and in around one million years, Beta Aurigae will become the brightest star in the night sky.
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