IQ Aurigae

IQ Aurigae

A light curve for IQ Aurigae from BRITE nanosatellites. Plotted from data published by Strassmeier et al. (2020),[1] assuming a period of 2.463 days.
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Auriga
Right ascension 05h 19m 00.02846s[2]
Declination +33° 44′ 54.2208″[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.38[3]
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage main sequence[4]
Spectral type A0pSi[5]
U−B color index −0.62[6]
B−V color index −0.167±0.004[3]
Variable type α2 CVn[7]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+28.6[8] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +13.573[2] mas/yr
Dec.: −29.028[2] mas/yr
Parallax (π)7.0526 ± 0.1065 mas[2]
Distance462 ± 7 ly
(142 ± 2 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−0.42[9]
Details[9]
Mass3.95±0.21 M☉
Radius2.6±0.4 R☉
Luminosity263 L☉
Surface gravity (log g)4.34±0.12 cgs
Temperature14,454 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]1.70[10] dex
Rotation2.4660 days
Rotational velocity (v sin i)49 km/s
Age6.3[4] Myr
Other designations
IQ Aur, BD+33°1008, HD 34452, HIP 24799, HR 1732, SAO 57884[11]
Database references
SIMBADdata

IQ Aurigae is a (most likely) single,[4] variable star in the northern constellation of Auriga. It is visible to the naked eye as a dim, white-hued star with an apparent visual magnitude that fluctuates around 5.38.[3] The star is located at a distance of about 460 light-years from the Sun based on parallax and is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +28.6 km/s.[8]

This is a magnetic Ap star with a stellar classification of A0pSi.[4] It is known as a silicon star, having a strong line of singly ionized silicon, and may also be helium deficient as the lines of helium are weaker than expected.[10] The star is an Alpha2 Canum Venaticorum-type variable, ranging in magnitude from 5.35 down to 5.43 with a rotationally-modulated period of 2.4660 days.[7] It is an X-ray source with a high luminosity of 4×1029 erg s−1, which may be caused by a combination of shocks in the stellar wind and magnetic reconnection occurring well above the stellar surface. The star has been observed to flare, during which the X-ray emission rose to 3.2×1031 erg s−1.[4]

IQ Aurigae is 6.3[4] million years old and is spinning with a projected rotational velocity of 49 km/s, giving it a rotation period of 2.47 days.[9] It has nearly four times the mass of the Sun and 2.6 times the Sun's radius. The star is radiating 263 times the luminosity of the Sun from its active photosphere at an effective temperature of 14,454 K.[9]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Strassmeier was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference GaiaDR3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Anderson2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference Robrade2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference aj74_375 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference MERMILLIOD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Samus2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Gontcharov was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference aaa334_181 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference aa_9_380 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).