Wolf 424

Wolf 424 A/B

An ultraviolet band light curve for FL Virginis, adapted from Moffett (1972).[1] The plot shows intensity above the star's quiescent intensity.
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Virgo
Right ascension 12h 33m 17.38s[2]
Declination +09° 01′ 15.8″[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) A: 13.22 ± 0.01
B: 13.21 ± 0.01[3]
Characteristics
Spectral type dM6e/dM6e[4]
U−B color index 1.19/
B−V color index 1.84/
Variable type Flare stars
Astrometry
Wolf 424 A
Radial velocity (Rv)−2[5] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −1710.468±0.554[6] mas/yr
Dec.: 203.098±0.451[6] mas/yr
Parallax (π)223.4775 ± 0.4665 mas[6]
Distance14.59 ± 0.03 ly
(4.475 ± 0.009 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)15.03[7]
Wolf 424 B
Proper motion (μ) RA: −1795.661±0.565[8] mas/yr
Dec.: 217.789±0.550[8] mas/yr
Parallax (π)231.1185 ± 0.5119 mas[8]
Distance14.11 ± 0.03 ly
(4.327 ± 0.010 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)15.02[7]
Orbit[3]
PrimaryGJ 473 A
CompanionGJ 473 B
Period (P)15.532 ± 0.096 yr
Semi-major axis (a)0.9257 ± 0.0049"
(4.062 ± 0.098 AU)
Eccentricity (e)0.2950 ± 0.0035
Inclination (i)103.00 ± 0.15°
Longitude of the node (Ω)143.48 ± 0.19°
Periastron epoch (T)1992.297 ± 0.056
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)		347.2 ± 1.5°
Details
MassA: 0.143 ± 0.011
B: 0.131 ± 0.010[3] M☉
Other designations
FL Vir, G 60-14, LFT 923, Ci 20 716, G 12-43, LHS 333, Cl* Melotte 25, GJ 473, USNO-B1.0 0990-00217846, GSC 00874-00306, LTT 13546, VVO 74, Wolf 424, 2E 2769, JP11 5148, GCRV 7553, JP11 5149, PLX 2890.
Database references
SIMBADdata
ARICNSA
B
Wolf 424 is located in the constellation Virgo.
Wolf 424 is located in the constellation Virgo.

Wolf 424
Location of Wolf 424 in the constellation Virgo

Wolf 424 is a binary star system comprising two red dwarf stars at a distance of approximately 14.2 light years from the Sun. It is located in the constellation Virgo, between the stars ε Virginis and ο Virginis.

The close binary nature of this star was discovered by Dutch American astronomer Dirk Reuyl in 1941, based upon an elongation of the star found in photographs.[3] The two stars in the Wolf 424 system orbit about each other with a semi-major axis of 4.1 AU and an eccentricity of 0.3. The stars have an orbital period of 15.5 years and have a combined apparent magnitude of about 12.5.

Wolf 424A is a cool main sequence red dwarf star of approximately 0.14 solar masses (147 Jupiters) and a radius of 0.17 solar radii. Its companion, Wolf 424B, is a cool main sequence red dwarf star of approximately 0.13 solar masses (136 Jupiters) and a radius of 0.14 solar radii. They are two of the dimmest known objects within 15 light years of the Sun. In 1967, it was discovered that both are flare stars that undergo random increases in luminosity. The system has been designated FL Virginis, and may experience sunspot activity. The stars may undergo variation in the level of flare activity over periods lasting several years.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Moffett was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference vizier_2_246 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference aj117_1_562 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference mnras368_3_1392 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference gcsrv was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c Brown, A. G. A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (2021). "Gaia Early Data Release 3: Summary of the contents and survey properties". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 649: A1. arXiv:2012.01533. Bibcode:2021A&A...649A...1G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202039657. S2CID 227254300. (Erratum: doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202039657e). Gaia EDR3 record for this source at VizieR.
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference RECONS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c Brown, A. G. A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (2021). "Gaia Early Data Release 3: Summary of the contents and survey properties". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 649: A1. arXiv:2012.01533. Bibcode:2021A&A...649A...1G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202039657. S2CID 227254300. (Erratum: doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202039657e). Gaia EDR3 record for this source at VizieR.