A blue light light curve of a flare on Gliese 269. The intensity scale is relative to the star's quiescent brightness. Adapted from Pettersen (1975) [1] | |
Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Auriga |
Right ascension | 07h 10m 01.83458s [2] |
Declination | 38° 31′ 46.0672″ [2] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | M5Ve + M5Ve [3] |
U−B color index | +1.18 [4] |
B−V color index | +1.71 [4] |
Variable type | RS CVn |
Astrometry | |
Radial velocity (Rv) | 41.792 ± 0.025 [5] km/s |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: -437.44 [2] mas/yr Dec.: -947.44 [2] mas/yr |
Parallax (π) | 165.2147 ± 0.0636 mas [6] |
Distance | 19.741 ± 0.008 ly (6.053 ± 0.002 pc) |
Orbit [5] | |
Period (P) | 10.42672 ± 0.00006 d |
Semi-major axis (a) | 0.1110 ± 0.0005″ |
Eccentricity (e) | 0.3203 ± 0.0009 |
Inclination (i) | 100.39 ± 0.03° |
Longitude of the node (Ω) | 89.98 ± 0.07° |
Argument of periastron (ω) (secondary) | 211.98 ± 0.19° |
Semi-amplitude (K1) (primary) | 34.814 ± 0.036 km/s |
Semi-amplitude (K2) (secondary) | 40.874 ± 0.052 km/s |
Details [5] | |
Gliese 268 A | |
Mass | 0.22599(65) M☉ |
Gliese 268 B | |
Mass | 0.19248(56) M☉ |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
ARICNS | data |
Location of Gliese 268 in the constellation Auriga |
Gliese 268 (QY Aurigae) is a RS Canum Venaticorum variable (RS CVn) star in the Auriga constellation. RS CVn variables are binary star systems with a strong magnetic field influenced by each star's rotation, which is accelerated by the tidal effects of the other star in the system. [7] Gliese 268 in particular is composed of a binary system of two M-type dwarfs, or red dwarfs, and is one of the one hundred closest star systems to the Earth. The primary component of the system has an apparent magnitude of 12.05, and the secondary component an apparent magnitude of 12.45.[ citation needed ] Neither is visible to the naked eye from Earth. [8]
Cor Caroli is a binary star designated Alpha Canum Venaticorum or α Canum Venaticorum. The International Astronomical Union uses the name "Cor Caroli" specifically for the brighter star of the binary. Alpha Canum Venaticorum is the brightest point of light in the northern constellation of Canes Venatici.
Psi Velorum, Latinized from ψ Velorum, is a binary star system in the southern constellation of Vela. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 53.15 mas as seen from Earth, it is located 61.4 light years from the Sun. It is visible to the naked eye with a combined apparent visual magnitude of +3.58. The motion of this system through space makes it a candidate member of the Castor stellar kinematic group.
9 Aurigae is a star system in Auriga (constellation). It has an apparent magnitude of about 5, making it visible to the naked eye in many suburban skies. Parallax estimates made by the Hipparcos spacecraft put it at about 86 light-years from the solar system, although individual Gaia Data Release 3 parallaxes place all three components at 88 light years.
14 Aurigae is a quadruple star system located 269 light years away from the Sun in the zodiac constellation of Auriga. It has the variable star designation KW Aurigae, whereas 14 Aurigae is the Flamsteed designation. It is visible to the naked eye as a faint, white-hued star with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 5.01. The system is moving closer to the Sun with a heliocentric radial velocity of −9 km/s.
59 Aurigae, often abbreviated as 59 Aur, is a star in the constellation Auriga. Its baseline apparent magnitude is 6.1, meaning it can just barely be seen with the naked eye as a dim, yellow-white hued star. Based on parallax measurements, it is located about 483 light-years away from the Sun.
Gliese 105 is a triple star system in the constellation of Cetus. It is located relatively near the Sun at a distance of 23.6 light-years. Despite this, even the brightest component is barely visible with the unaided eye (see Bortle scale). No planets have yet been detected around any of the stars in this system.
31 Camelopardalis is a binary star system in the northern circumpolar constellation of Camelopardalis. It is visible to the naked eye as a dim point of light with a peak apparent visual magnitude of +5.12. Parallax measurements provide a distance estimate of approximately 460 light years away from the Sun, and the system is drifting closer to the Earth with a radial velocity of −3 km/s.
HR 3220 is a binary star system in the southern constellation of Carina. It has the Bayer designation B Carinae; HR 3220 is the designation from the Bright Star Catalogue. It has a yellow-white hue and is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.75. Based upon parallax measurements, it is located at a distance of 59 light years from the Sun. The system is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +24 km/s.
HD 17925 is a variable star in the equatorial constellation of Eridanus. It has the Gould designation 32 G. Eridani and the variable star designation EP Eri. The star has a yellow-orange hue and is dimly visible to the naked eye in good seeing conditions with an apparent visual magnitude that varies from 6.03 down to 6.08. It is located nearby at a distance of 34 light years from the Sun based on parallax, and is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +18 km/s. It is a likely member of the Local Association of nearby, co-moving stars. The spectrum shows a strong abundance of lithium, indicating that it is young star. This likely makes its point of origin the nearby Scorpio–Centaurus Complex.
HD 29697 is a variable star of BY Draconis type in the constellation Taurus. It has an apparent magnitude around 8 and is approximately 43 ly away.
UX Arietis is a triple star system located in the northern zodiacal constellation of Aries. Based upon parallax measurements from the Gaia satellite, it is roughly 165 light years away. The primary, component Aa, is a variable star of the RS CVn type. The variability of the star is believed due to a combination of cool star spots and warm flares, set against the baseline quiescent temperature of the stellar atmosphere. The variability appears to be cyclical with a period of 8−9 years. The star varies in brightness from magnitude 6.35 to 6.71, meaning it may be intermittently visible to the unaided eye under ideal dark-sky conditions.
V538 Aurigae is a single star in the northern constellation of Auriga. With an apparent visual magnitude of 6.23, this star requires good dark sky conditions to view with the naked eye. It is located at a distance of 40.0 light-years (12.3 pc) from Sun based on parallax. The star is drifting further away with a radial velocity of 0.9 km/s. It is a member of the Local Association, and is most likely a thin disk star.
ADS 48 is a multiple star system in the constellation of Andromeda consisting of 7 stars. The components, in order from A to G, have apparent visual magnitudes of 8.826, 8.995, 13.30, 12.53, 11.68, 9.949, and 13.00.
HR 7578 is a binary star in the constellation of Sagittarius. Their combined apparent magnitude is 6.18. Parallax measurements by the Gaia spacecraft put the system at 46.01 light-years away, making this a nearby system.
39 Draconis is a wide binary star system in the northern circumpolar constellation of Draco. It has the Bayer designation b Draconis, while 39 Draconis is the Flamsteed designation. This system is visible to the naked eye as a dim, white-hued point of light with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.0. Parallax measurements made by the Hipparcos spacecraft put it at a distance of 184 light-years, or 56 parsecs away from the Sun. The system is moving closer to the Earth with a heliocentric radial velocity of -24.5 km/s.
Tau2 Hydrae is a probable astrometric binary star system in the equatorial constellation of Hydra. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 6.30 mas as seen from Earth, it is located around 520 light years from the Sun. The brighter component is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of +4.56.
Mu Lupi is a system of three or four stars in the southern constellation of Lupus. It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.29 and lies roughly 340 light-years from the Sun.
16 Serpentis is a binary star system in the Serpens Caput portion of the equatorial constellation of Serpens, located 228 light years from the Sun. It is visible to the naked eye as a fain, orange-hued star with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.261. The system is moving further from the Earth with a heliocentric radial velocity of +3 km/s.
Gliese 251, also known as HIP 33226 or HD 265866, is a star located about 18 light years away from the Solar System. Located in the constellation of Gemini, it is the nearest star in this constellation. It is located near the boundary with Auriga, 49 arcminutes away from the bright star Theta Geminorum; due to its apparent magnitude of +9.89 it cannot be observed with the naked eye. The closest star to Gliese 251 is QY Aurigae, which is located 3.5 light years away.
RS Canum Venaticorum is a binary star system in the northern constellation of Canes Venatici. It serves as the prototype to the class of RS Canum Venaticorum variables. The peak apparent visual magnitude of this system is below the level needed to observe it with the naked eye. It is located at a distance of approximately 443 light years from the Sun based on parallax, but is drifting closer with a net radial velocity of −14 km/s. Olin J. Eggen (1991) included this system as a member of the IC 2391 supercluster, but it was later excluded.