AM Herculis

This article is about the individual star. For the type of cataclysmic variable star, see Polar (cataclysmic variable).
AM Herculis

A visual band light curve for AM Herculis, from AAVSO data[1]
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Hercules
Right ascension 18h 16m 13.255s[2]
Declination +49° 52′ 04.76″[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) 12.30-15.7[3]
Characteristics
Spectral type pec + M4.5V[3]
Variable type AM/XRM+E[3]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)-19.0[4] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −45.957[2] mas/yr
Dec.: +28.046[2] mas/yr
Parallax (π)11.3953 ± 0.0179 mas[2]
Distance286.2 ± 0.4 ly
(87.8 ± 0.1 pc)
Orbit
Period (P)3.094 hours (variable)[5]
Eccentricity (e)0.47±0.21[6]
Inclination (i)50[5]°
Details
White dwarf
Mass0.6 - 0.7[5] M☉
Red dwarf
Mass0.26[6] M☉
Radius0.32[6] R☉
Other designations
AN 1923.0028, GSC 3533.01105, X 18149+498[3]
Database references
SIMBADdata

AM Herculis is a binary variable star located in the constellation Hercules. This star, along with the star AN Ursae Majoris, is the prototype for a category of cataclysmic variable stars called polars, or AM Her type stars.

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  2. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference dr2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference var was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference rv was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference gawronski was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference dai was invoked but never defined (see the help page).