A visual band light curve for BZ Ursae Majoris. The main plot (from AAVSO data [1] ) shows several outbursts, and the inset plot (adapted from Kato et al. [2] ) shows a single superoutburst in detail. | |
Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Ursa Major |
Right ascension | 08h 53m 44.174s [3] |
Declination | +57° 48′ 40.59″ [3] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 15.7 to 16.5 [4] 10.2 to 15.9 [5] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | M5.5:Ve [6] |
Variable type | SU UMa [7] |
Astrometry | |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: 26.318 mas/yr [3] Dec.: −15.915 mas/yr [3] |
Parallax (π) | 6.4561 ± 0.0441 mas [3] |
Distance | 505 ± 3 ly (155 ± 1 pc) |
Orbit [6] | |
Period (P) | 97.8±0.1 h |
Inclination (i) | ~60 [8] ° |
Periastron epoch (T) | 2,448,319.897±0.003 HJD |
Details | |
White dwarf | |
Mass | 0.65 [9] [10] M☉ |
Radius | 6,880 [11] km |
Surface gravity (log g) | 7.5 [5] [12] cgs |
Temperature | 15,000 [5] [12] K |
Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 200 [5] km/s |
Donor star | |
Mass | 0.13 [6] M☉ |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
BZ Ursae Majoris is a dwarf nova star system in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major. It consists of a white dwarf primary in a close orbit with a red dwarf. The latter star is donating mass, which is accumulating in an accretion disk orbiting the white dwarf. [14] The system is located at a distance of approximately 505 light years from the Sun based on parallax measurements. [3]
This system was discovered to vary in brightness by B. E. Markaryan in 1968, [15] and it was given the variable star designation BZ UMa. [16] After four years of observation by the AAVSO, it was proposed to be a cataclysmic variable by M. Mayall. [14] In 1982, R. F. Green and associates identified it as a cataclysmic variable candidate of the U Gem-type, based on its spectrum. [17] The same year, W. Wenzel showed that this star had very long intervals between outbursts, placing it intermediate between the U Gem and WZ Sge classes. [18] P. Szkody and L. Feinswog examined the infrared light curve of the system, estimating an orbital inclination of 60° with no evidence of heating from the white dwarf. [8]
R. Claudi and associates in 1990 found a periodic modulation of hydrogen emission lines, indicating an orbital period of 1.62 h. They suggested it be classified as a SU UMa star. [19] Spectroscopic examination of the system using the Hubble Space Telescope during 2001 showed an anomalous abundance ratio of nitrogen to carbon that indicates CNO-processing. [20] This may be the result of an earlier evolutionary stage of the donor star that was stripped of its outer layers. A superoutburst was observed in 2007 that displayed superhumps. A lack of circular polarization indicates the white dwarf is not strongly magnetic, and thus this system is most likely not an intermediate polar. [14]
W Ursae Majoris is the variable star designation for a binary star system in the northern constellation of Ursa Major. It has an apparent visual magnitude of about 7.9, which is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. However, it can be viewed with a small telescope. Parallax measurements place it at a distance of roughly 169 light years (52 parsecs) from Earth.
A dwarf nova, or U Geminorum variable, is one of several types of cataclysmic variable star, consisting of a close binary star system in which one of the components is a white dwarf that accretes matter from its companion. Dwarf novae are dimmer and repeat more frequently than "classical" novae.
U Geminorum, in the constellation Gemini, is an archetypal example of a dwarf nova. The binary star system consists of a white dwarf closely orbiting a red dwarf. Every few months it undergoes an outburst that greatly increases its brightness. The dwarf nova class of variable stars are often referred to as U Geminorum variables after this star.
AM Herculis is a binary variable star located in the constellation Hercules. This star, along with the star AN Ursae Majoris, is the prototype for a category of cataclysmic variable stars called polars, or AM Her type stars.
WZ Sagittae is a cataclysmic dwarf nova star system in the constellation Sagitta. It consists of a white dwarf primary being orbited by a low mass companion. The white dwarf is about 0.85 solar masses while the companion is only 0.08 solar masses. This implies that the companion is a spectral class L2 star, although this has yet to be confirmed. The distance to this system has been determined by parallax, yielding a distance of 45.1 parsecs.
EK Trianguli Australis is a star in the constellation Triangulum Australe. It is a dwarf nova of the SU Ursae Majoris type that officially classified as such in 1980, after the characteristic eruptions of a short eruption and a supereruption were observed in May 1978 and June 1979 respectively. These systems are characterised by frequent eruptions and less frequent supereruptions. The former are smooth, while the latter exhibit short "superhumps" of heightened activity. The distance of the system has been assumed at 180 parsecs from the Solar System, for the donor star. Spectroscopic analysis and calculation gave an estimate of 125 parsecs.
SX Leonis Minoris is a dwarf nova of the SU Ursae Majoris type that was first discovered as a 16th magnitude blue star in 1957, before its identity was confirmed as a dwarf nova in 1994. The system consists of a white dwarf and a donor star which orbit around a common centre of gravity every 97 minutes. The white dwarf sucks matter from the other star via its Roche lobe onto an accretion disc which is heated to between 6000 and 10000 K and periodically erupts every 34 to 64 days, reaching magnitude 13.4 in these outbursts and remaining at magnitude 16.8 when quiet. These outbursts can be split into frequent eruptions and less frequent supereruptions. The former are smooth, while the latter exhibit short "superhumps" of heightened activity and last 2.6% longer.
RZ Gruis is a nova-like binary system in the constellation Grus composed of a white dwarf and an F-type main-sequence star. It is generally of apparent magnitude of 12.3 with occasional dimming to 13.4. Its components are thought to orbit each other roughly every 8.5 to 10 hours. It belongs to the UX Ursae Majoris subgroup of cataclysmic variable star systems, where material from the donor star is drawn to the white dwarf where it forms an accretion disc that remains bright and outshines the two component stars. The system is around 1,434 light-years away from Earth; or as much as 1,770 light years based on a Gaia parallax.
TV Corvi, also known as Tombaugh's Star, is a dwarf nova of the SU Ursae Majoris type in the constellation Corvus that was first discovered by accident as a mysterious 12th magnitude star on a plate by Clyde Tombaugh while looking for remote planets on May 25, 1932, before its identity was confirmed as a dwarf nova by David Levy in 1990.
In astronomy, a superhump is a periodic brightness variation in a cataclysmic variable star system, with a period within a few percent of the orbital period of the system.
SU Ursae Majoris, or SU UMa, is a close binary star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major. It is a periodic cataclysmic variable that varies in magnitude from a peak of 10.8 down to a base of 14.96. The distance to this system, as determined from its annual parallax shift of 4.53 mas, is 719 light-years. It is moving further from the Earth with a heliocentric radial velocity of +27 km/s.
LL Andromedae is a dwarf nova in the constellation Andromeda, discovered during an outburst in 1979. Its typical apparent visual magnitude is 19.4, but undergoes outbursts events when can reach a peak magnitude of 14.3. Since this magnitude is reached during the most powerful outbursts, while less bright outbursts can occur, it is classified as a SU Ursae Majoris variable.
V455 Andromedae is a dwarf nova in the constellation Andromeda. It has a typical apparent visual magnitude of 16.5, but reached a magnitude of 8.5 during the only observed outburst.
UX Ursae Majoris is an Algol type binary star system in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major. It is classified as a nova-like variable star similar to DQ Herculis, although no eruptions have been reported. Since its discovery in 1933, this system has been the subject of numerous studies attempting to determine its properties. The combined apparent visual magnitude of UX UMa ranges from 12.57 down to 14.15. The system is located at a distance of approximately 952 light years from the Sun based on parallax, and is drifting further away with a radial velocity of 112 km/s.
RZ Leonis Minoris is a cataclysmic variable star system in the northern constellation of Leo Minor. It undergoes frequent outbursts that vary in brightness from an apparent visual magnitude of 14.4 down to 16.8. Based on parallax measurements, this system is located at a distance of approximately 2,160 light years from the Sun.
SW Ursae Majoris is a cataclysmic binary star system in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major, abbreviated SW UMa. During quiescence it has an apparent visual magnitude of 16.5–17, which is too faint to be visible to the naked eye. Based on parallax measurements, it is located at a distance of approximately 526 light years from the Sun.
BE Ursae Majoris is a binary star system in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major, abbreviated BE UMa. The two components are an unusual M-class dwarf star and a subdwarf O star, borderline white dwarf. It is classified as a detached Algol variable and ranges in brightness from an apparent visual magnitude of 14.8 down to 17.8. This is too faint to be visible to the naked eye. The distance to this system is approximately 4,600 light years based on parallax measurements.
DW Ursae Majoris is an eclipsing binary star system in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major, abbreviated DW UMa. It is a cataclysmic variable of the SX Sextanis type, consisting of a compact white dwarf that is accreting matter from an orbiting companion star. The brightness of this source ranges from an apparent visual magnitude of 13.6 down to magnitude 18, which is too faint to be viewed with the naked eye. The distance to this system is approximately 1,920 light years based on parallax measurements.
ER Ursae Majoris is a variable star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major, abbreviated ER UMa. It is a prototype system for a subclass of SU Ursae Majoris dwarf novae. The system ranges in brightness from a peak apparent visual magnitude of 12.4 down to 15.2, which is too faint to be visible to the naked eye. The distance to this system, based on parallax measurements, is approximately 1,163 light years.
CR Boötis is an interacting binary system in the northern constellation of Boötes, abbreviated CR Boo. It is one of the best-known AM Canum Venaticorum stars. The system varies widely in brightness, ranging in apparent visual magnitude from 13.6 down to 17.5. The distance to this system is approximately 1,150 light years from the Sun, based on parallax measurements.