SS Virginis
SS Virginis is a Mira variable star that appears with a strong red hue. It varies in magnitude from a minimum of 9.5 to a maximum of 7.4 over a period of 361 days. It is also considered to be a semiregular variable star, as its minimum and maximum magnitude are themselves variable over a period of decades. Its spectral class is C63e. Because it is so rich in carbon, SS Virginis is classified as a carbon star, along with stars like T Geminorum. SS Virginis, like all carbon Mira variables, has a hydrogen-alpha emission line that varies widely, synchronized with the overall variations in light. The hydrogen-alpha emission line becomes far more prominent as the star becomes brighter. Observations made in the near-infrared spectrum indicate that it has a radius of 500 solar radii, and its temperature is between 2405 and 2485 kelvins.
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Right ascension | 12h 25m 14.3952s |
| Declination | +00° 46′ 10.9467″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 9.5 to 7.4 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | C53e |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | 2 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −1.448±0.228 mas/yr Dec.: 0.571±0.151 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 1.4348 ± 0.1018 mas |
| Distance | 2,300 ± 200 ly (700 ± 50 pc) |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
The location of SS Virginis is two degrees north-following of η Virginis (Eta Virginis, Zaniah).