Zeta Leonis

Zeta Leonis

Template:Location mark Location of ζ Leonis (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Leo
Right ascension	Template:RA
Declination	Template:DEC
Apparent magnitude (V)	3.33
Characteristics
Spectral type	F0 III
U−B Template:Engvar	+0.07
B−V Template:Engvar	+0.30
Variable type	Suspected
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	−15.6 km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: +18.39 mas/yr Dec.: −6.84 mas/yr
Parallax (π)	11.90±0.18 mas
Distance	Template:Rnd ± Template:Rnd ly (Template:Rnd ± Template:Rnd pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	−1.19
Details
Mass	3 Template:Solar mass
Radius	10.5 Template:Solar radius
Luminosity	223 Template:Solar luminosity
Surface gravity (log g)	3.0 cgs
Temperature	6,900 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]	−0.03 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)	72.4 km/s
Metallicity [Fe/H]	{{{metal_fe2}}} dex
Other designations
Adhafera, Aldhafera, Adhafara, ζ Leo, 36 Leo, BD+24°2209, FK5 384, HD 89025, HIP 50335, HR 4031, SAO 81265, GC 14107, NSV 04804, WDS 10167+2325A
Database references
SIMBAD	data

Zeta Leonis (ζ Leonis, abbreviated Zeta Leo, ζ Leo), also named Adhafera Template:IPAc-en, is a third-magnitude star in the constellation of Leo, the lion. It forms the second star (after Gamma Leonis) in the blade of the sickle, which is an asterism formed from the head of Leo.

Nomenclature

ζ Leonis (Latinised to Zeta Leonis) is the star's Bayer designation. It has the traditional name Adhafera (Aldhafera, Adhafara), which comes from the Arabic الضفيرة aḍ-ḍafīrah 'the braid/curl', a reference to its position in the lion's mane. In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN's first bulletin of July 2016 included a table of the first two batches of names approved by the WGSN; which included Adhafera for this star.

Properties

Adhafera is a giant star with a stellar classification of F0 III. Since 1943, the spectrum of this star has served as one of the stable anchor points by which other stars are classified. Its apparent magnitude is +3.44, making it relatively faint for a star that is visible to the naked eye. Nevertheless, it shines with 220 times the luminosity of the Sun. Adhafera has about three times the Sun's mass and 10.5 times the radius of the Sun. Parallax measurements from the Hipparcos satellite yield an estimated distance to Adhafera of from the Sun.

Adhafera forms a double star with an optical companion that has an apparent magnitude of 5.90. Known as 35 Leonis, this star is separated from Adhafera by 325.9 arcseconds along a position angle of 340°. The two stars do not form a binary star system as 35 Leo is only 100 light years from Earth, thus separating the two stars by approximately .