53 Aquarii

53 Aquarii
Diagram showing star positions and boundaries of the Aquarius constellation and its surroundings
Location of 53 Aquarii (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Aquarius
Right ascension 22h 26m 34.2753s[1]
Declination –16° 44′ 31.697″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.56[2] (6.35/6.57)[3]
Characteristics
Spectral type G1 V + G5 V Fe–0.8 CH–1[4]
U−B color index +0.09[2]
B−V color index +0.61[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+2.1[5] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +200.59[1] mas/yr
Dec.: +14.51[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)49.50 ± 1.23 mas[1]
Distance66 ± 2 ly
(20.2 ± 0.5 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)4.05[5] (4.94/4.87)[3]
Orbit[6]
Primary53 Aqr A
Companion53 Aqr B
Period (P)3500 yr
Semi-major axis (a)14.88″
Eccentricity (e)0.90
Inclination (i)44.13°
Longitude of the node (Ω)294.55°
Periastron epoch (T)B 2023
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)		151.40°
Details
53 Aqr A
Mass1.01[7] M☉
Radius1.11[8] R☉
Luminosity1.39[8] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)4.46[3] cgs
Temperature5,922[3] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]–0.10[3] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)8[9] km/s
Age0.18–0.37[10] Gyr
53 Aqr B
Mass0.99[7] M☉
Surface gravity (log g)4.44[3] cgs
Temperature5,811[3] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]–0.19[3] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)9[9] km/s
Other designations
GJ 859, HIP 110778.[11]
53 Aqr A: BD–17 6521, HD 212698, HR 8545, LTT 9026, SAO 165078.
53 Aqr B: BD–17 6520, HD 212697, HR 8544, LTT 9025, SAO 165077.
Database references
SIMBAD53 Aqr
53 Aqr A
53 Aqr B

53 Aquarii (abbreviated 53 Aqr) is a binary star[12] system in the equatorial constellation of Aquarius. 53 Aquarii is its Flamsteed designation though the star also bears the Bayer designation of f Aquarii. The combined apparent visual magnitude of the pair is a 5.56,[2] making it just visible to the naked eye in dark suburban skies. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 49.50 milliarcseconds for the first component, this system is located at a distance of approximately 65 light-years (20 parsecs) from Earth.[1]

This is a wide binary star system with a projected separation of 100 astronomical units; indicating that the two stars are at least this distance apart.[8] The primary component is a solar-type main sequence star with a stellar classification of G1 V.[4] It has about 99% of the Sun's mass, 111% of the Sun's radius, and shines with 139% of the luminosity of the Sun.[8] This energy is being emitted from an outer envelope at an effective temperature of 5,922 K,[3] giving it the golden hue of a G-type star.[13] An examination of the primary component with the Spitzer Space Telescope failed to detect any infrared excess that might otherwise be an indication of a circumstellar debris disk.[8]

The companion is a slightly cooler star with an effective temperature of 5,811 K.[3] It has a stellar classification of G5 V Fe–0.8 CH–1,[4] indicating it is a chemically peculiar G-type main sequence star showing an under-abundance of iron and the molecule CH in its spectrum. As of 2008, it has an angular separation of 1.325 arcseconds along a position angle of 30.9° from the primary.[14]

This system is coeval with the Castor Moving Group of stars that share a common motion through space; hence it is a candidate member of that association. This suggests that the system is young; its estimated age is in the range of 180 to 370 million years, based upon the spectrum and X-ray luminosity, respectively.[10]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference aaa474_2_653 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference aass34_1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cite error: The named reference aaa287_1_191 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference aj132_1_161 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference aaa418_989 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Sixth Catalog of Orbits of Visual Binary Stars". United States Naval Observatory. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  7. ^ a b Cvetkovic, Z.; Ninkovic, S. (2010). "On the Component Masses of Visual Binaries". Serbian Astronomical Journal. 180 (180): 71–80. Bibcode:2010SerAJ.180...71C. doi:10.2298/SAJ1080071C.
  8. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference apj698_2_1068 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference aaa460_3_695 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference aaa521_A12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference mnras389_2_869 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference csiro was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference pasp120_864_170 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).