Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Chamaeleon |
Right ascension | 08h 07m 27.7517s |
Declination | −76° 32′ 00.6650″ |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 11.5 - 16.2 [2] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | DA? + M5.5e [3] |
Variable type | SU UMa + Algol [4] |
Astrometry | |
Radial velocity (Rv) | −20 [5] km/s |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: −33.650 mas/yr [6] Dec.: +56.883 mas/yr [6] |
Parallax (π) | 8.2805 ± 0.074 mas [6] |
Distance | 394 ± 4 ly (121 ± 1 pc) |
Orbit | |
Primary | white dwarf |
Companion | red dwarf |
Period (P) | 1.79 h [7] |
Eccentricity (e) | 0 [7] |
Inclination (i) | 81.8±0.1 [8] ° |
Semi-amplitude (K1) (primary) | 105 [7] km/s |
Details | |
white dwarf | |
Mass | 1 [8] M☉ |
Radius | 0.013/0.48 R☉ |
Luminosity | 0.007/0.017 L☉ |
Temperature | 14,700/3100 K |
red dwarf | |
Other designations | |
Z Cha, 2E 1942, SBC9 505, CSV 1244, 2MASS J08072774-7632006, SON 4893, 2E 0808.8-7622, 1RXS J080728.8-763157, AAVSO 0809-76 | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
Z Chamaeleontis (abbreviated Z Cha) is a dwarf nova variable star system approximately 394 light-years [6] away from the Sun, where two stars orbit each other every 1.78 hours. The system comprises an eclipsing white dwarf and red dwarf and possibly a yet unconfirmed third low-mass substellar companion. [9]
Z Chamaeleontis was discovered in 1904, during the work required to produce the Astrographic Catalogue. By 1905 a period of variability had been derived. [10] in 1969, George S. Mumford discovered that in addition to being a dwarf nova, the star is an eclipsing variable. [11]
Dai et al. (2009) invoke the presence of a third object to explain orbital period variations with an apparent periodicity of roughly 28 years. The third body could yield a minimum mass 20 times greater than Jupiter and be located 9.9 Astronomical Units away from the dwarf nova, being likely a low-mass brown dwarf.
Companion (in order from star) | Mass | Semimajor axis (AU) | Orbital period (years) | Eccentricity | Inclination | Radius |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
b(unconfirmed) | ≥20 MJ | 9.9 | 28 | ≤0.2 | — | — |
μ1 Chamaeleontis, Latinized as Mu1 Chamaeleontis, is a single star in the southern circumpolar constellation Chamaeleon. It is dimly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.53. Based upon parallax measurements, it is located approximately 403 light-years away from the Sun. The radial velocity is poorly constrained, but it appears to be drifting further away at the rate of about 16 km/s
S Apodis, also known as HD 133444 is a variable star located in the southern circumpolar constellation Apus. It has an apparent magnitude ranging from 9.6 to 17, which is below the limit for naked eye visibility. The object is located relatively far at a distance of approximately 15,000 light years based on Gaia DR3 parallax measurements, but it is drifting closer with a heliocentric radial velocity of −75 km/s.
HD 57197, also known as M Puppis or HR 2789, is a suspected astrometric binary located in the southern constellation Puppis, the poop deck. It has an apparent magnitude of 5.84, making it faintly visible to the naked eye under ideal conditions. Based on parallax measurements from the Gaia satellite, the system is estimated to be 629 light years away from the Solar System. The value is poorly constrained, but it appears to be receding with a heliocentric radial velocity of 13 km/s. At its current distance, HD 57197's brightness is diminished by 0.3 magnitudes due to interstellar dust. It has an absolute magnitude of -0.43.
Zeta Octantis, Latinized from ζ Octantis, is a solitary, yellowish-white hued star located in the southern circumpolar constellation Octans. It has an apparent magnitude of 5.42, making it faintly visible to the naked eye under ideal conditions. The star is located relatively close at a distance of only 156 light-years based on Gaia DR3 parallax measurements, but is drifting closer with a radial velocity of −3.6 km/s. At its current distance, Zeta Octantis' brightness is diminished by 0.25 magnitudes due to interstellar dust.
Gamma3 Octantis, Latinized from γ3 Octantis, is a solitary star located in the southern circumpolar constellation Octans. It is faintly visible to the naked eye as an orange-hued star with an apparent magnitude of 5.28. The object is located relatively close at a distance of 264 light years but is receding with a heliocentric radial velocity of 15 km/s. At its current distance, Gamma3 Octantis' brightness is diminished by two tenths of a magnitude due to interstellar dust and Eggen (1993) lists it as a member of the old disk population. It has an absolute magnitude of +0.83.
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.
HD 76236, also designated as HR 3543 or rarely 11 G. Chamaeleontis, is a solitary star located in the southern circumpolar constellation Chamaeleon. It is faintly visible to the naked eye as an orange-hued star with an apparent magnitude of 5.77. Based on parallax measurements from the Gaia satellite, the object is estimated to be 612 light years away. Currently, it is receding with a heliocentric radial velocity of 7 km/s. At its current distance, HD 76236's brightness is diminished by 0.39 magnitudes due to interstellar dust. It has an absolute magnitude of −0.13.
HD 10800, also known as HR 512 or Gliese 67.1, is a triple star located in the southern circumpolar constellation Octans. It has a combined apparent magnitude of 5.87, allowing it to be faintly seen with the naked eye. The system is relatively close at a distance of 88.1 light years but is drifting closer with a heliocentric radial velocity −1.1 km/s.
AF Columbae, also known as HD 42682, is a solitary, red hued variable star located in the southern constellation Columba, the dove. It has an apparent magnitude that fluctuates between 5.6 and 5.71. Nevertheless, it is faintly visible to the naked eye. Parallax measurements from the Gaia spacecraft place the star relatively far at a distance of 820 light years. However, it is approaching the Solar System with a poorly constrained radial velocity of −19 km/s.
HD 43899, also designated as HR 2263, is a solitary, orange hued star located in the southern constellation Columba, the dove. It has an apparent magnitude of 5.53, allowing it to be faintly visible to the naked eye. Based on parallax measurements from the Gaia spacecraft, the object is estimated to be 284 light years distant. It appears to be rapidly receding with a heliocentric radial velocity of 66.5 km/s. Eggen (1993) lists HD 43899 as an old disk star and its kinematics match with that of the ζ Herculis moving group.
DR Chamaeleontis, also known as HD 93237, is a star located in the southern circumpolar constellation Chamaeleon. The system has an average apparent magnitude of 5.97, allowing it to be faintly visible to the naked eye. DR Cha is located relatively far at a distance of 1,060 light years based on Gaia DR3 parallax measurements, but is receding with a poorly constrained heliocentric radial velocity of 18 km/s.
8 Leonis Minoris is a solitary, red hued star located in the northern constellation Leo Minor. It has an apparent magnitude 5.37, making it faintly visible to the naked eye. Based on parallax measurements from the Gaia satellite, the object is estimated to be 492 light years distant. It is receding with a heliocentric radial velocity of 40 km/s. At its current distance, 8 LMi is diminshed by 0.12 magnitudes due to interstellar dust.
PW Telescopii, also known as HD 183806 or simply PW Tel, is a solitary variable star located in the southern constellation Telescopium. It has an average apparent magnitude of 5.58, making it faintly visible to the naked eye. Based on parallax measurements from the Gaia satellite, the star is estimated to be 395 light years distant. It appears to be approaching the Solar System with a heliocentric radial velocity of −10 km/s. The value is somewhat constrained, having an uncertainty of 26%. At its current distance, PW Tel's brightness is diminished by 0.05 magnitudes due to interstellar dust.
HD 118285, also known as HR 5115, is a variable star located in the southern circumpolar constellation Chamaeleon. DY Chamaeleontis is its variable star designation. It has an average apparent magnitude of 6.32, placing it near the limit for naked eye visibility. The object is located relatively far at a distance of 864 light years based on Gaia DR3 parallax measurements but is receding with a heliocentric radial velocity of 18 km/s. At its current distance, HD 118285's brightness is diminished by 0.58 magnitudes due to interstellar dust.
HD 59640 is a solitary white hued star located in the southern circumpolar constellation Volans. It has an apparent magnitude of 6.48, placing it near the limit for naked eye visibility. Gaia DR3 parallax measurements place the object at a distance of 262 light years and it is receding with a heliocentric radial velocity of 18.4 km/s. At its current distance, HD 59640's brightness is diminished by three tenths of a magnitude due to interstellar dust.
HD 75747, also known as HR 3524 or RS Chamaeleontis, is a binary star located in the southern circumpolar constellation Chamaeleon. It has an average apparent magnitude of 6.05, making it barely visible to the naked eye. The system is located relatively close at a distance of 322 light years based on Gaia DR3 parallax measurements but is receding with a somewhat constrained heliocentric radial velocity of 16.1 km/s. It has an absolute magnitude of +1.21.
HD 93486, also known as HIP 52381, is a binary star located in the southern circumpolar constellation Chamaeleon near the border with Octans. Its variable star designation is RZ Chamaeleontis. It has an apparent magnitude ranging from 8.2 to 9.1, which is below the limit for naked eye visibility. Gaia DR3 parallax measurements place the system 568 light years away, and it is currently receding with a heliocentric radial velocity of 20 km/s. At its current distance, HD 93486's average brightness is diminished by 0.53 magnitudes due to interstellar dust. The system has a combined absolute magnitude of +1.72.
T Chamaeleontis, also known as HIP 58285, is a T Tauri star located in the southern circumpolar constellation Chamaeleon. It has an apparent magnitude that ranges from 10.05 to 14.50, which is below the limit for naked eye visibility. Gaia DR3 parallax measurements place the object 335 light years away and it is currently receding with a heliocentric radial velocity of 13.8 km/s. At its current distance, T Cha's average brightness is diminished by 0.31 magnitudes due to extinction from interstellar dust. It has an average absolute magnitude of +6.55.
V686 Coronae Australis is a solitary, bluish-white-hued variable star located in the southern constellation Corona Australis. It has an apparent magnitude that ranges between 5.25 and 5.41, which makes it faintly visible to the naked eye. Gaia DR3 parallax measurements imply a distance of 480 light years and it is slowly receding with a heliocentric radial velocity of 1.3 km/s. At its current distance V686 CrA's average brightness is diminished by 0.35 magnitudes due to extinction from interstellar dust and it has an absolute visual magnitude of −0.24.
HD 196917 is a solitary star located in the southern constellation Microscopium. It is faintly visible to the naked eye as a red-hued point of light with an apparent magnitude of 5.74. Gaia DR3 parallax measurements imply a distance of 426 light-years and it is rapidly approaching the Solar System with a heliocentric radial velocity of −97.3 km/s. At its current distance, HD 196917's brightness is diminished by 0.13 magnitudes due to interstellar extinction and it has an absolute magnitude of +0.04.