Lambda Ceti

Lambda Ceti
Location of Lambda Ceti (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Cetus
Right ascension 02h 59m 42.89987s[1]
Declination 08° 54′ 26.4899″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.71[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type B6III[3]
U−B color index −0.471[2]
B−V color index −0.109±0.006[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)10.2±2.8[4] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: 6.01±0.26[1] mas/yr
Dec.: −17.70±0.29[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)5.66 ± 0.24 mas[1]
Distance580 ± 20 ly
(177 ± 7 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−1.52[2]
Details
Mass5.01±0.05[5] M☉
Radius5.4[6] R☉
Luminosity652[2] L☉
Temperature13,940±710[7] K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)131[8] km/s
Age100-125[6] Myr
Other designations
Menkar, λ Cet, 91 Cet, BD+08° 455, FK5 1083, HD 18604, HIP 13954, HR 896, SAO 110889[9]
Database references
SIMBADdata

Lambda Ceti, Latinized from λ Ceti, is a B-type star of fifth-magnitude located in the constellation Cetus. Historically, the star bore the traditional name Menkar, although today that name is more commonly associated with α Ceti.

This star, along with α Cet (Menkar), γ Cet (Kaffaljidhma), δ Cet, μ Cet, ξ1 Cet and ξ2 Cet were Al Kaff al Jidhmah, "the Part of a Hand".[10]

In Chinese, 天囷 (Tiān Qūn), meaning Circular Celestial Granary, refers to an asterism consisting of λ Ceti, α Ceti, κ1 Ceti, μ Ceti, ξ1 Ceti, ξ2 Ceti, ν Ceti, γ Ceti, δ Ceti, 75 Ceti, 70 Ceti, 63 Ceti and 66 Ceti. Consequently, the Chinese name for λ Ceti itself is 天囷三 (Tiān Qūn sān, English: the Third Star of Circular Celestial Granary.)[11]

  1. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference van Leeuwen2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference Anderson2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lesh1968 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gontcharov2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hohle_et_al_2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference KALER was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Zorec2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Simón-Díaz2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Star Name - R.H. Allen p.160
  11. ^ (in Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 11 日