V957 Scorpii is a
variable star in the constellation of
Scorpius. It is a
blue straggler in the open cluster
Messier 7, a star that is unexpectedly hot compared to other members of the cluster.
Spectrum
V957 Scorpii shows a peculiar B5 or B6 spectrum. Its luminosity class has been given as
main sequence (V),
subgiant (IV),
giant (III), and
supergiant (Ib).[10] From its position in the
H-R diagram, it is actually thought to be a main sequence star.[11] With a helium abundance 25 times lower than that of the sun,[12] it is classified as
helium-weak. It also has a low carbon abundance and a strong magnetic field.[7]
Messier 7
Messier 7 is a naked-eye
open cluster. Except for one obvious orange giant star, its brightest members are mostly early A and late B main sequence stars and giants. Several of them are also
chemically peculiar stars. However, two stars are hotter than the others and lie to the left of the
isochrone for the cluster. These are the
blue stragglersHD 162586 and V957 Scorpii. V957 Scorpii is considered 92% likely to be a member of M7. M7 has an age around 220 million years, but the apparent age of V957 Scorpii is less than 100 million years.[12]
Variability
V957 Scorpii varies in brightness by about 0.05 magnitudes. This is thought to be due to its rotation and variations in its surface brightness. It is classified as an
SX Arietis variable, also known as helium variables. Their
spectral lines also vary as the stars rotate.[2]
^
abcSamus, 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.
^
abHoffleit, D.; Warren, W. H. (1995). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: Bright Star Catalogue, 5th Revised Ed. (Hoffleit+, 1991)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: V/50. Originally Published in: 1964BS....C......0H. 5050.
Bibcode:
1995yCat.5050....0H.
^Conti, P. S.; Hensberge, G.; Van Den Heuvel, E. P. J.; Stickland, D. J. (1974). "A study of the blue stragglers in Praesepe, M7 and the Hyades cluster". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 34: 393.
Bibcode:
1974A&A....34..393C.
^Skiff, B. A. (2014). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: Catalogue of Stellar Spectral Classifications (Skiff, 2009- )". VizieR On-line Data Catalog.
Bibcode:
2014yCat....1.2023S.
^Mermilliod, J. -C (1982). "Stellar content of young open clusters. I. Blue stragglers". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 109: 37.
Bibcode:
1982A&A...109...37M.
^
abAndrievsky, S. M.; Schönberner, D.; Drilling, J. S. (2000). "Blue stragglers in open clusters. Part II". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 356: 517.
Bibcode:
2000A&A...356..517A.