Kappa Canis Majoris

κ Canis Majoris
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Canis Major
Right ascension 06h 49m 50.5s
Declination −32° 30′ 31″
Apparent magnitude (V) +3.50
Distance790 ± 96 ly
(242 ± 29 pc)
Spectral typeB1.5IVne
Other designations
13 Canis Majoris, HR 2538, HD 50013, CD −32° 3404, FK5 1180, HIP 32759, SAO 197258, GC 8946

Kappa Canis Majoris (κ CMa, κ Canis Majoris) is a star in the constellation Canis Major. It is approximately 790 light years from Earth.

κ Canis Majoris is a blue-white B-type subgiant with a mean apparent magnitude of +3.50. This is a rapidly rotating Be star with 5.9 times the radius of the Sun.[1] It is classified as a Gamma Cassiopeiae type variable star and its brightness varies from magnitude +3.4 to +3.97.[2] It has become 50% brighter between 1963 and 1978, from magnitude 3.96 or so to 3.52.[3]

Naming

In Chinese, 弧矢 (Hú Shǐ), meaning Bow and Arrow,[4] refers to an asterism consisting of κ Canis Majoris, δ Canis Majoris, η Canis Majoris, HD 63032, HD 65456, ο Puppis, k Puppis, ε Canis Majoris and π Puppis. Consequently, κ Canis Majoris itself is known as 弧矢八 (Hú Shǐ bā, English: the Eighth Star of Bow and Arrow.)[5]

References

  1. ↑ Meilland, A.; Stee, Ph.; Chesneau, O.; Jones, C. (October 2009), "VLTI/MIDI observations of 7 classical Be stars", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 505 (2): 687–693, arXiv:0908.1239Freely accessible, Bibcode:2009A&A...505..687M, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200911960
  2. ↑ Watson, Christopher (4 January 2010). "Kappa Canis Majoris". AAVSO Website. American Association of Variable Star Observers. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  3. ↑ Kaler, James B. (1 March 2013). "Kappa Canis Majoris". Stars. University of Illinois. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  4. ↑ 弧矢 (Hú Shǐ) is westernized into Koo She. R.H. Allen had opinion that Koo She refers to the asterism including δ Velorum and ω Velorum. AEEA opinion is, δ Velorum is member of 天社 (Tiān Shè), meaning Celestial Earth God's Temple asterism and ω Velorum is not member of any asterisms. 天社 (Tiān Shè) is westernized into Tseen She and R.H.Allen used the term Tseen She for Chinese name of η Carinae. See Richard Hinckley Allen: Star Names — Their Lore and Meaning: Argo Navis and (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 17 日.
  5. ↑ (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 17 日
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