From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
21 Cancri
Observation data
Epoch J2000       Equinox J2000
Constellation Cancer
Right ascension 08h 23m 55.20829s [1]
Declination +10° 37′ 55.4169″ [1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 6.08 [2]
Characteristics
Spectral type M2III [3]
B−V color index 1.507±0.004 [4]
Variable type suspected [5]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)4.53 [1] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −0.843 [1]  mas/ yr
Dec.: −22.943 [1]  mas/ yr
Parallax (π)4.1258 ± 0.0272  mas [1]
Distance791 ± 5  ly
(242 ± 2  pc)
Details
Radius53 [6]  R
Luminosity587 [6]  L
Temperature3,885 [6]  K
Other designations
NSV 17875, BD+11°1830, HD 70734, HIP 41163, HR 3290, SAO 97788
Database references
SIMBAD data

21 Cancri is a double star in the northern zodiac constellation of Cancer. It is just visible to the naked eye as a dim, red-hued star with an apparent visual magnitude of 6.08. [2] The star is located around 791  light years away from the Sun, based on parallax. It is moving further from the Earth with a heliocentric radial velocity of 35 km/s. [6]

The brighter component is an aging red giant with a stellar classification of M2III. [3] It is currently on the asymptotic giant branch, indicating this is a highly evolved star that has exhausted both its core hydrogen and core helium. [7] This is a suspected variable star. [5] It has expanded to 53 [6] times the radius of the Sun and is radiating 587 [6] times the Sun's luminosity from its swollen photosphere at an effective temperature of 3,885 K. [6] A 9th magnitude companion star is located one arc second away. [7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Vallenari, A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (2023). "Gaia Data Release 3. Summary of the content and survey properties". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 674: A1. arXiv: 2208.00211. Bibcode: 2023A&A...674A...1G. doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202243940. S2CID  244398875. Gaia DR3 record for this source at VizieR.
  2. ^ a b Ducati, J. R. (2002). "VizieR On-line Data Catalog: Catalogue of Stellar Photometry in Johnson's 11-color system". VizieR On-line Data Catalog. Bibcode: 2002yCat.2237....0D.
  3. ^ a b Abt, H. A. (1985). "Visual multiples. VIII. 1000 MK types". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 59: 95. Bibcode: 1985ApJS...59...95A. doi: 10.1086/191064.
  4. ^ Anderson, E.; Francis, Ch. (2012). "XHIP: An extended hipparcos compilation". Astronomy Letters. 38 (5): 331. arXiv: 1108.4971. Bibcode: 2012AstL...38..331A. doi: 10.1134/S1063773712050015. S2CID  119257644.
  5. ^ a b Samus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007-2013)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S. 1: B/GCVS. Bibcode: 2009yCat....102025S.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Brown, A. G. A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (August 2018). "Gaia Data Release 2: Summary of the contents and survey properties". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 616. A1. arXiv: 1804.09365. Bibcode: 2018A&A...616A...1G. doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/201833051. Gaia DR2 record for this source at VizieR.
  7. ^ a b Eggen, Olin J. (1992). "Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars Near the Sun". The Astronomical Journal. 104: 275. Bibcode: 1992AJ....104..275E. doi: 10.1086/116239.