Eta Geminorum

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Eta Geminorum
Template:Location mark
Location of η Geminorum (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Gemini
A
Right ascension Template:RA[1]
Declination Template:DEC[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 3.1Template:Snd3.7[2]
B
Right ascension Template:RA[1]
Declination Template:DEC[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 6.04[1]
Characteristics
Spectral type M2 IIIa[3] (Aa)
A[4] (Ab)
G0 III[5] (B)
Variable type SRa + EA[6]
Astrometry
Proper motion (μ) RA: Template:Val[7] mas/yr
Dec.: Template:Val[7] mas/yr
Parallax (π)8.48±1.23 mas[8]
Distanceapprox. Template:Rnd ly
(approx. Template:Rnd pc)[8]
Absolute magnitude (MV)−1.87[9]
Orbit[10][4]
PrimaryAa
CompanionAb
Period (P)8.161 yr
Semi-major axis (a)0.077″
Eccentricity (e)0.5507
Periastron epoch (T)JD 2444489.1
Argument of periastron (ω)
(primary)		174.20°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)		9.438 km/s
Orbit[11]
PrimaryA
CompanionB
Period (P)473.7 yr
Semi-major axis (a)1.08″
Eccentricity (e)0.54
Details
Aa
Mass5.1[4] Template:Solar mass
Radius275Template:Su[12] Template:Solar radius
LuminosityTemplate:Val[12] Template:Solar luminosity
Temperature3,502[12] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]+0.04[13] dex
Age0.81[5] Gyr
Ab
Mass2[4] Template:Solar mass
Radius1.65[4] Template:Solar radius
Luminosity16[4] Template:Solar luminosity
Temperature9,000[4] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]{{{metal_fe2}}} dex
Other designations
Propus,[14] Praepes, Tejat Prior, Pish Pai,[15] η Geminorum, 7 Geminorum, HD 42995, HR 2216, BD+22°1241, HIP 29655, SAO 78135, CCDM J06149+2230, ADS 4841
Database references
SIMBADdata

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Eta Geminorum (η Geminorum, abbreviated Eta Gem, η Gem), formally named Propus Template:IPAc-en,[16][14] is a triple star system in the constellation of Gemini. It is a variable star visible to the naked eye, around 380 light years from the Sun. The position of this system near the ecliptic means it is subject to lunar occultation.[17]

Nomenclature

Eta Geminorum is the star's Bayer designation. The traditional names Tejat Prior, Propus (from the Greek, meaning forward foot) and Praepes and Pish Pai (from the Persian Pīshpāy, پیش‌پای, meaning foreleg). In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)[18] to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN's first bulletin of July 2016[19] included a table of the first two batches of names approved by the WGSN; which included Propus for this star.

This star, along with γ Gem (Alhena), μ Gem (Tejat Posterior), ν Gem and ξ Gem (Alzirr) were Al Han'ah, "the brand" (on the neck of the camel). They also were associated in Al Nuḥātai, the dual form of Al Nuḥāt, "a Camel's Hump".[15]

In Chinese lunar mansion, Tejat Prior is the only member of the lunar mansion 钺 (Pinyin: Yuè, Chinese 'Battle Axe').[20][15]

Surroundings

File:Ic443 wide.jpg
η Gem (right), μ Gem (left), and the nebulosity between them

η Geminorum lies at the foot of the Castor side of Gemini, about two degrees west of μ Geminorum and two degrees southeast of the bright open cluster M35. Between the two stars are several faint areas of nebulosity. η Gem just to the west of the supernova remnant shell IC 443. Further east around μ Gem is the emission nebula S249. In between is the small faint emission nebula IC 444 around the 7th magnitude 12 Geminorum.

η Geminorum is 0.9 degree south of the ecliptic, so it can be occulted by the Moon[21] and, rarely, by planets. The last occultation by a planet took place on July 27, 1910, by Venus,[22] and the next to last on July 11, 1837, by Mercury.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Variability

File:EtaGemLightCurve.png
A visual band light curve for the 1979-1980 eclipse of Eta Geminorum[23]

In 1865, Julius Schmidt first reported that η Geminorum was a variable star. The light variations were described by Schmidt and other observers as having long maxima of constant brightness, minima of greatly varying size and shape, and a period around 231 days.[24] The star was classified as both a semiregular variable and an eclipsing variable. The eclipse period has been set at about eight years, corresponding to the orbit of an unseen companion. The eclipses were initially questioned, but special projects led to the eclipses of February 1980, April 1988 and October 2012 being well observed. Eclipses have depths of about half a magnitude and durations of several weeks.[25][23]

The semi-regular variations have been classified as type SRa, indicating relatively predictable periodicity with some variations in amplitude and light curve shape. These types of variable are considered to be very similar to Mira variables, but with smaller amplitudes.[6] Many long-period variables show long secondary periods, typically ten times longer than the main period, but these changes have not been detected for η Geminorum. The main period has been refined to an average of 234 days.[26]

System

File:IC 443.jpg
η Gem is the bright star lying just outside the supernova remnant IC 443 (WISE infrared image)

η Geminorum is a triple system, with the luminous class M star having a close companion known only from radial velocity variations, and a more distant companion resolved visually.

In 1881, Burnham observed that η Geminorum had a close companion (η Gem B). At that time the separation was measured to be 1.08".[27] This has now increased to 1.65" and an orbit has been calculated to be 474 years long and rather eccentric.[24] Little is known about the companion, although it is 6th magnitude. It is given a G0 spectral type and is assumed to be a giant on the basis of its brightness.[5]

In 1902, William Wallace Campbell reported that η Geminorum A showed radial velocity variations. The assumption was that the star was a spectroscopic binary, although no period or other orbital parameters were determined.[28] An orbit calculated in 1944 is essentially unchanged today, with a period of 2,983 days and an eccentricity of 0.53. Observations were made looking for sign of eclipses corresponding to the derived orbit, but the evidence was regarded as inconclusive,[29] and the eclipses were not confirmed until much later. Due to the appearance of the spectrum, the spectroscopic companion is suspected to be a fainter M-class star.[5] Since the secondary star alone would be too small to cause the observed eclipses, it is probably surrounded by a circumstellar disk.[4]

Evolution

The luminous main component of η Geminorum is an asymptotic giant branch star, a highly evolved cool luminous star that was originally Template:Solar mass on the main sequence.[30]

Namesakes

USS Propus (AK-132) was a United States Navy Crater class cargo ship named after the star.

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Stars of Gemini

  1. ↑ a b c d e Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named tycho2
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  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Torres
  5. ↑ a b c d Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named hunsch
  6. ↑ a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gcvs
  7. ↑ a b Template:Cite DR2
  8. ↑ a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named validation
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Ryon2009
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named malkov
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named msc
  12. ↑ a b c Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named baines2021
  13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named huang
  14. ↑ a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named IAU-CSN
  15. ↑ a b c Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named allen1963
  16. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Kunitzsch
  17. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Herr_1969
  18. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named WGSN
  19. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named WGSN1
  20. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named AEEA
  21. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named White1987
  22. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Koennen1981
  23. ↑ a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named baa2012
  24. ↑ a b Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named eclipsing
  25. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named baa2004
  26. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named percy
  27. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named clerke
  28. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named campbell
  29. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named orbit
  30. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named eggen
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