AM Herculis
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "about".
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Hercules |
| Right ascension | Template:RA[2] |
| Declination | Template:DEC[2] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 12.30-15.7[3] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | pec + M4.5V[3] |
| Variable type | AM/XRM+E[3] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | -19.0[4] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −45.957[2] mas/yr Dec.: +28.046[2] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 11.3953±0.0179 mas[2] |
| Distance | Template:Rnd ± Template:Rnd ly (Template:Rnd ± Template:Rnd pc) |
| Orbit | |
| Period (P) | 3.094 hours (variable)[5] |
| Eccentricity (e) | Script error: No such module "val".[6] |
| Inclination (i) | 50[5]° |
| Details | |
| White dwarf | |
| Mass | 0.6 - 0.7[5] Template:Solar mass |
| Red dwarf | |
| Mass | 0.26[6] Template:Solar mass |
| Radius | 0.32[6] Template:Solar radius |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | {{{metal_fe2}}} dex |
| Other designations | |
| AN 1923.0028, GSC 3533.01105, X 18149+498[3] | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
AM Herculis is a binary variable star located in the constellation Hercules. This star, along with the star AN Ursae Majoris, is the prototype for a category of cataclysmic variable stars called polars, or AM Her type stars.
History
AM Herculis was first cataloged in 1923 by Max Wolf and was listed at the time as Veränderlicher 28.1923, which is now AN 28.1923 in the General Catalogue of Variable Stars. It was observed to be an irregular variable star ranging from 12 to 14 in apparent magnitude.[7] In 1976, the astronomer S. Tapia discovered that light from the star is both linearly and circularly polarized, showing that there was a strong magnetic field surrounding the system and revealing that the system was more complex than previously thought.[8][9][10]
System
The AM Herculis binary system contains a white dwarf and a red dwarf. The white dwarf is accreting material directly from the red dwarf without an accretion disk. The white dwarf primary is highly magnetic and the infalling material is channelled towards the magnetic poles. The accretion rate is unstable, at times decreasing dramatically and reducing the brightness of the whole system. There are also periodic variations thought to be caused by the appearance and eclipse of the accreting regions during rotation of the white dwarf.[5][6]
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c d e Template:Cite DR2
- ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Further reading
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
External links
- Variable Star Of The Month by the American Association of Variable Star Observers