Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox | |
---|---|
Constellation | Canis Major |
Right ascension | 07h 19m 28.18202s [1] |
Declination | −16° 23′ 42.8773″ [1] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 5.70 - 6.34 [2] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | F0V + G8IV [3] |
U−B color index | +0.01 [3] |
B−V color index | +0.34 [3] |
Variable type | Algol |
Astrometry | |
Radial velocity (Rv) | -39.0 [4] km/s |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: 165.37 [1] mas/yr Dec.: −136.18 [1] mas/yr |
Parallax (π) | 23.38 ± 0.54 mas [1] |
Distance | 44 [3] pc |
Absolute magnitude (MV) | +2.57 [5] |
Details [3] | |
Mass | 1.67 + 0.22 + 0.8 M☉ |
Radius | 1.78 + 1.22 + 0.83 R☉ |
Luminosity | 8.2 + 0.49 + 0.4 L☉ |
Surface gravity (log g) | 4.16 + 3.60 + 4.50 cgs |
Temperature | 6,964 [5] K |
Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 78.3±3.9 [5] km/s |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
R Canis Majoris is an eclipsing interacting binary star system in the constellation Canis Major. It varies from magnitude 5.7 to 6.34. [6] The system is unusual in the low ratio between the main two components and shortness of the orbital period. [3]
Eclipse timings for R Canis Majoris have been being measured since 1887, and whilst at present the time period appears constant at 1.1359 days, periodic quasi-sinusoidal variations of the eclipse arrival times have been taking place with a periodicity of around 93 years. This has led to the suggestion that there exists a third non-eclipsing body in the system whose gravitational pull is responsible for these variations. [8]
R Canis Majoris is thought to be an interacting binary star. The secondary star has exceeded its Roche lobe and accreted mass to the primary star. This has resulted in the early evolution of the secondary star into the subgiant branch, and increased helium rich material in the primary, causing it to burn brighter and have a higher effective temperature than would usually be expected for a star of its mass. [9]
Reanalysis of the system using high-resolution spectroscopy yields its two main components to have masses 1.67 ± 0.08, and 0.22 ± 0.07 times that of the Sun respectively and radii 1.78 ± 0.03 and 1.22 ± 0.07 times that of the Sun respectively. Their surface temperatures are 7300 and 4350 K. The third star has a mass 80% that of the Sun and a radius around 83% that of the Sun. A third star in the system is very faint, presumably an orange dwarf. [3]
Beta Canis Majoris, also named Mirzam, is a star in the southern constellation of Canis Major, the "Great Dog", located at a distance of about 500 light-years (150 parsecs) from the Sun. In the modern constellation it lies at the position of the dog's front leg.
Mu Ursae Majoris, formally named Tania Australis, is a binary star in the constellation of Ursa Major. An apparent visual magnitude of +3.06 places it among the brighter members of the constellation. Parallax measurements give an estimated distance of roughly 230 light-years from the Sun, with a margin of error of 4%.
Upsilon Ursae Majoris, Latinized from υ Ursae Majoris, is a binary star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major. It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of +3.79. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 13.24 mas, it is located roughly 246 light-years from the Sun.
Iota Canis Majoris, Latinized from ι Canis Majoris, is a solitary variable supergiant star in the southern constellation of Canis Major. It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude that varies between +4.36 and +4.40. The distance to this star is approximately 2,500 light years based on spectroscopic measurements. It is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +42 km/s.
Omicron1 Canis Majoris is a red supergiant star in the constellation Canis Major. It is also a variable star.
Sigma Canis Majoris, also named Unurgunite, is a variable star in the southern constellation of Canis Major. It is approximately 1,290 light-years from the Sun and has an average apparent visual magnitude of +3.41.
Tau Canis Majoris is a multiple star system in the constellation Canis Major. It is approximately 5,000 light years distant from Earth and is the brightest member of the open cluster NGC 2362.
UW Canis Majoris is a star in the constellation Canis Major. It is classified as a Beta Lyrae eclipsing contact binary and given the variable star designation UW Canis Majoris. Its brightness varies from magnitude +4.84 to +5.33 with a period of 4.39 days. Bode had initially labelled it as Tau2 Canis Majoris, but this designation had been dropped by Gould and subsequent authors.
Chi Draconis is a magnitude 3.6 binary star in the constellation Draco. It also has the Flamsteed designation 44 Draconis. At a distance of 27 light years, it is one of the forty or so closest stars.
Zeta Cephei is a red supergiant star, located about 1000 light-years away in the constellation of Cepheus. Zeta Cephei marks the left shoulder of Cepheus, the King of Ethiopia. It is one of the fundamental stars of the MK spectral sequence, defined as type K1.5 Ib.
HR 2554, also known as V415 Carinae and A Carinae, is an eclipsing spectroscopic binary of the Algol type in the constellation of Carina whose apparent visual magnitude varies by 0.06 magnitude and is approximately 4.39 at maximum brightness. Its primary is a G-type bright giant star and its secondary is an A-type main-sequence star. It is approximately 553 light-years from Earth.
EZ Canis Majoris is binary system in the constellation of Canis Major. The primary is a Wolf-Rayet star and it is one of the ten brightest Wolf-Rayet stars, brighter than apparent magnitude 7.
R Arae is an Algol-type eclipsing binary in the constellation Ara. Located approximately 298 parsecs (970 ly) distant, it normally shines at magnitude 6.17, but during eclipses can fall as low as magnitude 7.32. It has been suggested by multiple studies that mass transfer is occurring between the two stars of this system, and the period of eclipses seems to be increasing over time. The primary is a blue-white main sequence star of spectral type B5V that is 5 times as massive as the Sun, while the secondary is a yellow-white star of spectral type F1IV that is 1.5 times as massive as the Sun. Stellar material is being stripped off the secondary and accreting on the primary.
LY Aurigae is a multiple star system in the constellation Auriga. It is an eclipsing binary variable star, dropping in brightness by 0.7 magnitudes every 4 days. The system is around a thousand light years away in the Auriga OB1 stellar association.
1 Geminorum is a star in the constellation Gemini. Its apparent magnitude is 4.15.
72 Pegasi is a binary star system in the northern constellation of Pegasus. It is visible to the naked eye as a faint, orange-hued point of light with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 4.97. The system is located approximately 550 light years away from the Sun, based on parallax, but is drifting closer with a radial velocity of −25 km/s.
42 Persei is a binary star system in the northern constellation of Perseus. It has the Bayer designation n Persei, while 42 Persei is the Flamsteed designation. The system is visible to the naked eye as a dim, white-hued point of light with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.11. It is located around 93 parsecs (302 ly) distant from the Sun, but is drifting closer with a radial velocity of −12.4 km/s.
RR Centauri is a variable star of apparent magnitude maximum +7.29. It is located in the constellation of Centaurus, approximately 320 light years distant from the solar system.
CX CMa is a blue variable star in the Canis Major constellation. Discovery of this variable is usually credited to German Astronomer Cuno Hoffmeister in 1931, although this remains uncertain.
65 Ursae Majoris, abbreviated as 65 UMa, is a star system in the constellation of Ursa Major. With a combined apparent magnitude of about 6.5, it is at the limit of human eyesight and is just barely visible to the naked eye in ideal conditions. It is about 760 light years away from Earth.