Pi Aquarii
Star in the constellation Aquarius / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pi Aquarii, Latinized from π Aquarii, is the Bayer designation for a binary star in the equatorial constellation of Aquarius. This system has an apparent visual magnitude of a mean apparent magnitude of +4.57.[4] Based upon parallax measurements, it is located at a distance of roughly 780 light-years (240 parsecs) from Earth.[1] It is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +4 km/s.[5]
Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Aquarius |
Right ascension | 22h 25m 16.62285s[1] |
Declination | +01° 22′ 38.6346″[1] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 4.42 - 4.87[2] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | B1III-IVe[3] |
U−B color index | −0.98[4] |
B−V color index | −0.03[4] |
Variable type | γ Cas[2] |
Astrometry | |
Radial velocity (Rv) | +4.0[5] km/s |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: +17.83[1] mas/yr Dec.: +2.41[1] mas/yr |
Parallax (π) | 4.17 ± 0.28 mas[1] |
Distance | 780 ± 50 ly (240 ± 20 pc) |
Absolute magnitude (MV) | −2.09[6] |
Orbit[7] | |
Period (P) | 84.07±0.02 d |
Semi-major axis (a) | ≥ 0.96 AU |
Eccentricity (e) | 0.0 (fixed) |
Periastron epoch (T) | 2,450,318.5±13.2 JD |
Argument of periastron (ω) (secondary) | 0.0 (fixed)° |
Semi-amplitude (K1) (primary) | 16.7±0.2 km/s |
Semi-amplitude (K2) (secondary) | 101.4±0.2 km/s |
Details | |
A | |
Mass | 10.7±0.7[8] M☉ |
Radius | 6.2[9] R☉ |
Luminosity | 7,302[10] L☉ |
Temperature | 27,094[9] K |
Metallicity [Fe/H] | −0.02[6] dex |
Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 215[11] km/s |
Age | 10.0±5.0[8] Myr |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
This is a binary star system with an orbital period of 84.1 days.[14][15] The primary component is a B1 giant or subgiant star.[3] This is a large star with nearly eleven[8] times the mass and over six times the radius of the Sun.[9] Pi Aquarii shines about 7,300[10] times as brightly as the Sun. This energy is being radiated from its outer atmosphere at an effective temperature of 27,094 K,[9] giving it the blue-hued glow of a B-type star.[16] It is spinning rapidly with a projected rotational velocity of 215 km/s.[11] The nature of the secondary is unknown; some analyses have suggested it is an A- or F-type main-sequence star,[7] but the possibility of a white dwarf has not been ruled out.[17]
Pi Aquarii is notable for having undergone a transition from a Be star (showing hydrogen emission lines) into an ordinary B-type star.[15] It is classified as a Gamma Cassiopeiae type[2] variable star and its brightness varies from magnitude +4.45 to +4.71; a range of 0.28. The dominant variability period, 83.8±0.8 days, is nearly the same as the orbital period.[15] Pi Aquarii has a reasonable chance of becoming a supernova some day.[14]