Mu Draconis

μ Draconis
Location of μ Draconis (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Draco
Right ascension 17h 05m 20.12403s[1]
Declination +54° 28′ 12.0994″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.92[2]
(5.66 / 5.69)[3]
Characteristics
Spectral type F7V
U−B color index −0.01[4]
B−V color index +0.47[4]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−17.30 ± 0.5[5] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −58.16[1] mas/yr
Dec.: 67.87[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)36.45 ± 0.46 mas[1]
Distance89 ± 1 ly
(27.4 ± 0.3 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+2.73[6]
Orbit[3]
Primaryμ Dra A
Companionμ Dra B
Period (P)812.0 ± 70.5 yr
Semi-major axis (a)4.48 ± 0.03″
Eccentricity (e)0.5139 ± 0.029
Inclination (i)142.2 ± 1.3°
Longitude of the node (Ω)282.85 ± 0.80°
Periastron epoch (T)1946.19 ± 0.72
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
193.31 ± 0.083°
Details
μ Dra A
Mass1.35[7] M
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.01[6] dex
μ Dra B
Mass1.30[7] M
Age2.2[6] Gyr
Other designations
21 Draconis, GJ 9584, BD+54° 1857, SAO 30239, HIP 83608
A: Alrakis, HR 6370, HD 154906
B: HR 6369, HD 154905
Database references
SIMBADμ Dra
μ Dra A
μ Dra B

Mu Draconis (μ Draconis, abbreviated Mu Dra, μ Dra) is a multiple star system near the head of the constellation of Draco. With a combined magnitude of 4.92,[2] it is visible to the naked eye. Based on parallax estimates by the Hipparcos spacecraft, it is located approximately 89 light-years from the Sun.[1]

The system consists of a single primary star (designated Mu Draconis A, officially named Alrakis /ælˈrkɪs/ from the traditional name of the system),[8][9] a secondary binary pair (Mu Draconis B) and a further single star (C). B's two components are designated Mu Draconis Ba and Bb.

Mu Draconis A and Ba are nearly identical F-type main-sequence stars, with masses of 1.35 M and 1.30 M, respectively.[7] Both have the spectral class of F5V, and have similar apparent magnitude, at 5.66 and 5.69, respectively.[3] The secondary, Mu Draconis B, has a drifting radial velocity, and is itself a spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of 2,270 days.[10] The distance between both stars is 2 arcseconds, so a telescope with a diameter of at least 6 centimetres is necessary to see them separate. The smaller component, Mu Draconis Bb, has a mass of 0.2 M. Mu Draconis C is a 14th magnitude common-proper-motion companion 13.2" away from the bright pair, with a mass of 0.29 M.[7]

  1. ^ a b c d e f van Leeuwen, F.; et al. (2007). "Validation of the new Hipparcos reduction". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 474 (2): 653–664. arXiv:0708.1752. Bibcode:2007A&A...474..653V. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078357. S2CID 18759600.
  2. ^ a b "* mu Dra". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Sixth Catalog of Orbits of Visual Binary Stars". United States Naval Observatory. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b Mermilliod, J.-C. (1986). "Compilation of Eggen's UBV data, transformed to UBV (unpublished)". Catalogue of Eggen's UBV Data: 0. Bibcode:1986EgUBV........0M.
  5. ^ Holmberg, J.; Nordström, B.; Andersen, J. (2007). "The Geneva-Copenhagen survey of the Solar neighbourhood II". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 475 (2): 519. arXiv:0707.1891. Bibcode:2007A&A...475..519H. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20077221. S2CID 119054949.
  6. ^ a b c Holmberg, J.; Nordström, B.; Andersen, J. (2009). "The Geneva-Copenhagen survey of the solar neighbourhood. III. Improved distances, ages, and kinematics". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 501 (3): 941. arXiv:0811.3982. Bibcode:2009A&A...501..941H. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200811191. S2CID 118577511.
  7. ^ a b c d Tokovinin, Andrei (2014). "From Binaries to Multiples. II. Hierarchical Multiplicity of F and G Dwarfs". The Astronomical Journal. 147 (4): 87. arXiv:1401.6827. Bibcode:2014AJ....147...87T. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/147/4/87. S2CID 56066740.
  8. ^ Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. ISBN 978-1-931559-44-7.
  9. ^ "Naming Stars". IAU.org. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  10. ^ Pourbaix, D.; et al. (2004). "SB9: The ninth catalogue of spectroscopic binary orbits". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 424 (2): 727–732. arXiv:astro-ph/0406573. Bibcode:2004A&A...424..727P. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20041213. S2CID 119387088. (SB9 catalog entry)