Castor (star)

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Castor
Gemini constellation map.svg
Castor within the constellation Gemini
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Gemini
A
Right ascension 07h 34m 35.863s[1]
Declination +31° 53′ 17.79″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 1.93[1]
B
Right ascension 07h 34m 36.100s[1]
Declination +31° 53′ 18.57″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 2.97[1]
C
Right ascension 07h 34m 37.584s[1]
Declination +31° 53′ 17.8160″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 9.83[1]
Characteristics
A
Spectral type A1V + dM1e[2]
B−V color index +0.03[3]
B
Spectral type Am + dM1e[2]
B−V color index +0.04[3]
C
Spectral type dM1e + dM1e[2]
U−B color index +1.04[4]
B−V color index +1.49[4]
Variable type BY Dra[5]
Astrometry
Proper motion (μ) RA: –191.45[6] mas/yr
Dec.: –145.19[6] mas/yr
Parallax (π) 64.12 ± 3.75[6] mas
Distance 51 ± 3 ly
(15.6 ± 0.9 pc)
A
Radial velocity (Rv) +6.0[7] km/s
Absolute magnitude (MV) +0.986[3]
B
Radial velocity (Rv) –1.2[7] km/s
Absolute magnitude (MV) +1.886[3]
C
Radial velocity (Rv) +2.5[8] km/s
Absolute magnitude (MV) +8.950[9]
Details
α Gem Aa
Mass 2.76[10] M☉
Radius 2.4[11] R☉
Surface gravity (log g) 4.2[11] cgs
Temperature 10,286[12] K
Metallicity [Fe/H] 0.98[12] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i) 18[13] km/s
α Gem Ba
Mass 2.98[10] M☉
Radius 3.3[11] R☉
Surface gravity (log g) 4.0[11] cgs
Temperature 8,842[12] K
Metallicity [Fe/H] 0.45[12] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i) 33[13] km/s
Ca/Cb
Mass 0.5992[9] M☉
Radius 0.6191[9] R☉
Luminosity 0.0733[9] L☉
Surface gravity (log g) 4.6317[9] cgs
Temperature 3,820[9] K
Metallicity [Fe/H] ~0.0[9] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i) 37[9] km/s
Age 370[9] Myr
Orbit[14]
Primary α Gem A
Companion α Gem B
Period (P) 445[10] yr
Semi-major axis (a) 7.369"
Eccentricity (e) 0.360
Inclination (i) 112.9°
Longitude of the node (Ω) 41.7°
Periastron epoch (T) 2401950.650
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)		 239.8°
Orbit[14]
Primary α Gem A1
Companion α Gem A2
Period (P) 9.2128 days
Eccentricity (e) 0.5
Periastron epoch (T) 2427543.938
Argument of periastron (ω)
(primary)		 266.4°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)		 12.9 km/s
Orbit[14]
Primary α Gem B1
Companion α Gem B2
Period (P) 2.9283 days
Periastron epoch (T) 2427501.703
Argument of periastron (ω)
(primary)		 94.7°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)		 31.9 km/s
Orbit[14]
Primary α Gem AB
Companion α Gem C
Period (P) 14,000 yr
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)		 121.0 km/s
Semi-amplitude (K2)
(secondary)		 119.0 km/s
Orbit[9]
Primary α Gem C1
Companion α Gem C2
Period (P) 0.814 days
Eccentricity (e) 0
Inclination (i) 86.29 ± 0.10°
Longitude of the node (Ω) 7.315°
Other designations
Castor, α Gem, 66 Gem, FK5 287, Gliese 278, HIP 36850, SAO 60198
A: BD+32°1581A, PLX 1785.00, HR 2891, HD 60179
B: BD+32°1581B, HR 2890, HD 60178
C: YY Gem, BD +32° 1582
Database references
SIMBAD Castor A data
SIMBAD Castor B data
SIMBAD Castor C data

Castor (α Gem, α Geminorum, Alpha Geminorum) is the second brightest star in the constellation Gemini and one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Although it has the Bayer designation "alpha", it is actually fainter than Beta Geminorum (Pollux).

The Castor System

Castor A and B

Castor was recorded as a visual binary in 1718 by James Pound. It may have been resolved in 1678 by Cassini. The separation of the two stars has increased from 2" in 1907[15] to 7" in 1997.[14] The two stars form a visual double, with magnitudes of 1.9 and 3.0.

A third star is 73" distant from the main components.[14] It was discovered to vary in brightness with a regular period and was thought to be an eclipsing binary, but the variations are now considered to be due to areas of different brightness on the surface of one or both stars. It was given the variable star designation YY Geminorum.[9]

All three of the visual components are actually spectroscopic binaries and Castor is a complex multiple star system made up of six individual stars. Castor A and B both have orbits of a few days with a much fainter companion. The Castor C components orbit in less than a day. Castor C is believed to be in orbit around the bright pair, but with an extremely long period of several thousand years. [14]

The combined apparent magnitude of all six stars is +1.58.

Physical characteristics

Castor is 51 light years away from Earth, determined from its large annual parallax. The two brightest stars are both A-class main sequence stars, more massive and brighter than the sun. The properties of their red dwarf companions are difficult to determine, but are both thought to have less than half the mass of the sun.[14] The two red dwarfs of Castor C are almost identical, with masses around a half M☉ and luminosities less than 10% of the sun.[9]

Castor B is an Am star, with particularly strong spectral lines of certain metals.

Castor C is a variable star, classified as a BY Dra type. BY Draconis variables are cool dwarf stars which vary as they rotate due to star spots or other variations in their photospheres.

All the red dwarfs in the Castor system have emissions lines in their spectra, and all are Flare stars.[11]

Etymology and culture

Castor and Pollux are the two "heavenly twin" stars that give the constellation Gemini (meaning twins in Latin) its name. The name Castor refers specifically to Castor, one of the twin sons of Zeus and Leda. The star was annotated by the Arabic description Al-Ras al-Taum al-Muqadim, which translates as the head of the foremost twin. In the catalogue of stars in the Calendarium of Al Achsasi Al Mouakket, this star was designated Aoul al Dzira, which was translated into Latin as Prima Brachii, meaning the first in the paw.[16]

In Chinese, 北河 (Běi Hé), meaning North River, refers to an asterism consisting of Castor, ρ Geminorum, and Pollux.[17] Consequently, Castor itself is known as 北河二 (Běi Hé èr, English: the Second Star of North River.)[18] The Chinese recognized Castor as Yin, which is, according to the Chinese, one of the two fundamental principles upon which all things depend.[citation needed]

References

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External links

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Coordinates: Sky map 07h 34m 36s, +31° 53′ 18″

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  17. ↑ (Chinese) 中國星座神話, written by 陳久金. Published by 台灣書房出版有限公司, 2005, ISBN 978-986-7332-25-7.
  18. ↑ (Chinese) 香港太空館 - 研究資源 - 亮星中英對照表, Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.
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