The visual band light curve of XZ Andromedae is shown. The main plot shows the light curve over a full cycle, and the inset plot shows the primary minimum on an expanded scale. Adapted from Yang (2013) [1] | |
Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Andromeda |
Right ascension | 01h 56m 51.52427s [2] |
Declination | +42° 06′ 02.1813″ [2] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 9.91 – 12.45 variable [3] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | A4IV-V + G5IV [4] |
Apparent magnitude (B) | 10.16 [5] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 9.93 [5] |
Apparent magnitude (G) | 9.9856 [2] |
Apparent magnitude (J) | 9.373 [6] |
Apparent magnitude (H) | 9.210 [6] |
Apparent magnitude (K) | 9.188 [6] |
B−V color index | 0.2125 [5] |
Variable type | EA |
Astrometry | |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: 4.345±0.110 [2] mas/yr Dec.: −11.814±0.116 [2] mas/yr |
Parallax (π) | 1.8406 ± 0.0788 mas [2] |
Distance | 1,770 ± 80 ly (540 ± 20 pc) |
Orbit [4] | |
Period (P) | 1.357 days |
Eccentricity (e) | 0 |
Inclination (i) | 89° |
Periastron epoch (T) | HJD 2449313.53084±0.00081 |
Details [4] | |
Primary | |
Mass | 3.2 M☉ |
Radius | 2.4 R☉ |
Temperature | 9,500 K |
Secondary | |
Mass | 1.3 M☉ |
Radius | 2.6 R☉ |
Temperature | 5,500 K |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
XZ Andromedae (also known as XZ And) is a binary star in the constellation Andromeda. Its maximum apparent visual magnitude is 9.91, but drops down to 12.45 every 1.357 days. Its variability matches the behaviour of Algol variable stars. [3]
The primary star of the system has a mass of 3.2 M☉ and has a spectral type A4IV-V, meaning that it has intermediate characteristics between a main sequence star and a subgiant one. The secondary is less massive (1.3 M☉) but larger than the primary, so it's an evolved subgiant star and its spectral type is G5IV. [4] The secondary component will likely evolve into a white dwarf before the primary leaves the main sequence. [7] Since 2019, it is suspected that the eclipsing binary is orbited by an additional two similar stars in a 1:3 mean-motion resonance with periods 33.43 and 100.4 years. [8]
The variability of XZ Andromedae was discovered by Henrietta Levitt by examining photographs taken from 1916 to 1919. Variability was confirmed by Arville D. Walker and Priscilla Fairfield. The discovery was announced by Harlow Shapley in 1923. [9] The star, originally known as BD+41 376, received the variable star designation XZ Andromedae in 1924. [10]
Photometric periods of Algol variables matches the orbital period of the system. However, in XZ Andromedae have been observed slight period variations that can be reproduced with three different cycles of 137.5, 36.8 and 11.2 years, respectively. Each of them could be the effect of another faint body orbiting the binary system, but one of the two shorter cycles could also be an effect of magnetic interaction between stars (the Applegate mechanism). [4]
Other research [7] states that the long cycle is instead a long-term period increase caused by mass transfer from the secondary (that fills its Roche lobe) to the primary component.
LN Andromedae, also known as HD 217811, HR 8768, is a formerly suspected variable star in the constellation Andromeda. Located approximately 458 parsecs (1,490 ly) away from Earth, it shines with an apparent visual magnitude 6.41, thus it can be seen by the naked eye under very favourable conditions. Its spectral classification is B2V, meaning that it's a hot main sequence star, emitting light approximately with a blackbody spectrum at an effective temperature of 18,090 K.
LQ Andromedae is a variable star in the constellation Andromeda. Its maximum apparent visual magnitude is 6.5, placing it at the limit of the visibility to the naked eye. The brightness, however, drops down to 6.66 with a periodic cycle of roughly 7.44 hours.
WZ Andromedae is an eclipsing binary star in the constellation Andromeda. Its maximum apparent visual magnitude is 11.6, but drops down to 12.00 during the main eclipse which occurs roughly every 16.7 hours.
AB Andromedae is a binary star in the constellation Andromeda. Paul Guthnick and Richard Prager discovered that the star is an eclipsing binary in 1927. Its maximum apparent visual magnitude is 9.49 but shows a variation in brightness down to a magnitude of 10.46 in a periodic cycle of roughly 8 hours. The observed variability is typical of W Ursae Majoris variable stars, so the two stars in this system form a contact binary.
AD Andromedae is an eclipsing binary in the constellation Andromeda. Its maximum apparent visual magnitude is 11.2, but it shows a decrease of 0.62 magnitudes during the main eclipse and 0.58 during the secondary one. It is classified as a Beta Lyrae variable star with a period of almost one day.
BX Andromedae is an eclipsing binary star in the constellation Andromeda. Its maximum apparent visual magnitude is 8.87. Within a cycle of approximately 14.6 hours, the brightness drops down to a magnitude of 9.53 during the main eclipse, and to a magnitude of 9.12 during the secondary one. It is classified as a Beta Lyrae variable.
CC Andromedae is a variable star in the constellation Andromeda. It is a pulsating star of the Delta Scuti type, with an apparent visual magnitude that varies between 9.19 and 9.46 with a periodicity of 3 hours.
CN Andromedae is an eclipsing binary star in the constellation Andromeda. Its maximum apparent visual magnitude is 9.62 and drops down to a minimum of 10.2 during the main eclipse. It is classified as a Beta Lyrae variable with a period roughly of 0.4628 days.
DS Andromedae is an eclipsing binary star in the constellation Andromeda and a member of the open cluster NGC 752. Its maximum apparent visual magnitude is 10.44, but drops down to 10.93 during the main eclipse and to 10.71 during the secondary one.
FF Andromedae is a spectroscopic binary in the constellation Andromeda. It has a typical apparent visual magnitude of 10.4, but undergoes flare events that can increase its brightness by about a magnitude.
GR Andromedae is a variable star in the constellation Andromeda. Its apparent visual magnitude varies between 6.87 and 6.95 in a cycle of 518.2 days. It is classified as an α2 Canum Venaticorum variable.
KZ Andromedae is a double lined spectroscopic binary in the constellation Andromeda. Its apparent visual magnitude varies between 7.91 and 8.03 during a cycle slightly longer than 3 days.
LP Andromedae is a carbon star in the constellation Andromeda. It is also a Mira variable whose mean apparent visual magnitude is 15.12 and has pulsations with an amplitude of 1.50 magnitudes and a period of 614 days.
QR Andromedae is an eclipsing binary star in the constellation Andromeda. Its maximum apparent visual magnitude is 12.16, but its light curve shows clearly eclipsing events where its brightness can drop to a magnitude of 13.07. This leads to its classification as an Algol variable star.
QX Andromedae is an eclipsing binary in the constellation Andromeda. It varies from a maximum apparent visual magnitude of 11.28 to a minimum of 11.50. Since it is impossible to specify the onset time of the eclipses, it is classified as a W Ursae Majoris variable star. It is also observed as an X-ray source and is a member of the open cluster NGC 752.
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.
AI Phoenicis is a variable star in the constellation of Phoenix. An Algol-type eclipsing binary, its apparent magnitude is constant at 8.58 for most of the time, sharply dropping to 9.35 during primary eclipse and to 8.89 during secondary eclipse. The system's variability was discovered by W. Strohmeier in 1972. From parallax measurements by the Gaia spacecraft, the system is located at a distance of 560 light-years from Earth, in agreement with earlier estimates based on its luminosity.
VV Ursae Majoris is a binary star system in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major, abbreviated VV UMa. It is a variable star system with a brightness that cycles around an apparent visual magnitude of 10.19, making it too faint to be visible to the naked eye. The system is located at a distance of approximately 1,500 light years based on parallax measurements.
RS Sagittarii is an eclipsing binary star system in the southern constellation of Sagittarius, abbreviated RS Sgr. It is a double-lined spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of 2.416 days, indicating that the components are too close to each other to be individually resolved. The system has a combined apparent visual magnitude of 6.01, which is bright enough to be faintly visible to the naked eye. During the primary eclipse the brightness drops to magnitude 6.97, while the secondary eclipse is of magnitude 6.28. The distance to this system is approximately 1,420 light years based on parallax measurements.
HD 37824 is a spectroscopic binary star system in the constellation of Orion. It has the variable-star designation V1149 Orionis. With an apparent magnitude of 6.59, it is near the limit for naked eye observation from Earth, faintly visible as an orange-hued dot of light under dark skies. It is located approximately 492 light-years distant according to Gaia DR3 parallax measurements, and is moving further away at a heliocentric radial velocity of 26.90 km/s.