Alpha Pyxidis
 
     
  | |
|  Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000  | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Pyxis | 
| Right ascension | 08h 43m 35.53756s[1] | 
| Declination | –33° 11′ 10.9898″[1] | 
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 3.67[2] | 
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | B1.5III[3] | 
| U−B color index | –0.84[2] | 
| B−V color index | –0.19[2] | 
| Variable type | Beta Cephei[4] | 
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +15.3[5] km/s | 
| Proper motion (μ) |  RA: –14.27[1] mas/yr  Dec.: +10.43[1] mas/yr  | 
| Parallax (π) | 3.71 ± 0.14[1] mas | 
| Distance | 880 ± 30 ly  (270 ± 10 pc)  | 
| Details | |
| Mass | 10.7[4] M☉ | 
| Radius | 6.3 ± 1.0[6] R☉ | 
| Luminosity | 10,000[4] L☉ | 
| Surface gravity (log g) | 3.63[7] cgs | 
| Temperature | 24,300[7] K | 
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | -0.18[7] dex | 
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 11[8] km/s | 
| Other designations | |
Alpha Pyxidis (Alpha Pyx, α Pyxidis, α Pyx) is a giant star in the constellation Pyxis. It has a stellar classification of B1.5III and is a Beta Cephei variable. This star has more than ten times the mass of the Sun and is more than six times the Sun's radius. The surface temperature is 24,300 K and the star is about 10,000 times as luminous as the Sun.[3][4][7] Stars such as this with more than 10 solar masses are expected to end their life by exploding as a supernova.[10]
Naming
In Chinese, 天狗 (Tiān Gǒu), meaning Celestial Dog, refers to an asterism consisting of α Pyxidis, e Velorum, f Velorum, β Pyxidis, γ Pyxidis and δ Pyxidis. Consequently, α Pyxidis itself is known as 天狗五 (Tiān Gǒu wǔ, English: the Fifth Star of Celestial Dog.)[11]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5  van Leeuwen, F. (November 2007), "Validation of the new Hipparcos reduction", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 474 (2): 653–664, arXiv:0708.1752
, Bibcode:2007A&A...474..653V, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078357 - 1 2 3 Fernie, J. D. (May 1983). "New UBVRI photometry for 900 supergiants". Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 52: 7–22. Bibcode:1983ApJS...52....7F. doi:10.1086/190856.
 - 1 2 Hiltner, W. A.; Garrison, R. F.; Schild, R. E. (July 1969). "MK Spectral Types for Bright Southern OB Stars". Astrophysical Journal. 157: 313. Bibcode:1969ApJ...157..313H. doi:10.1086/150069.
 - 1 2 3 4  Hubrig, S.;  et al. (January 2009). "New magnetic field measurements of beta Cephei stars and Slowly Pulsating B stars". Astronomische Nachrichten. 330 (4): 317. arXiv:0902.1314
. Bibcode:2009AN....330..317H. doi:10.1002/asna.200811187. - ↑ Wilson, R. E. (1953). General Catalogue of Stellar Radial Velocities. Carnegie Institute of Washington D.C. Bibcode:1953GCRV..C......0W.
 - ↑  Hubrig, S.; Ilyin, I.; Schöller, M.; Briquet, M.; Morel, T.; De Cat, P. (January 2011), "First Magnetic Field Models for Recently Discovered Magnetic β Cephei and Slowly Pulsating B Stars", The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 726 (1): L5, arXiv:1012.3019
, Bibcode:2011ApJ...726L...5H, doi:10.1088/2041-8205/726/1/L5 - 1 2 3 4 Kilian, J. (February 1994). "Chemical abundances in early B-type stars. 5: Metal abundances and LTE/NLTE comparison". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 282 (3): 867–873. Bibcode:1994A&A...282..867K.
 - ↑  Nieva, M. F.; Przybilla, N. (April 2008). "Carbon abundances of early B-type stars in the solar vicinity. Non-LTE line-formation for C II/III/IV and self-consistent atmospheric parameters". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 481 (1): 199–216. arXiv:0711.3783
. Bibcode:2008A&A...481..199N. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078203. - ↑ "NSV 4220 -- Variable Star". SIMBAD. Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
 - ↑  Reed, B. Cameron (June 28, 2005). "New Estimates of the Solar-Neighborhood Massive-Stars Birthrate and the Galactic Supernova Rate". The Astronomical Journal. 130 (4): 1652. arXiv:astro-ph/0506708
. Bibcode:2005AJ....130.1652R. doi:10.1086/444474. - ↑ (Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 17 日
 
External links
- Kaler, James. "Alpha Pyxidis". University of Illinois. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
 
