Beta Virginis, a name Latinised from β Virginis, is a star in the equatorial constellation of Virgo. It has the proper name Zavijava (/ˌzævɪˈævə/),[11][12][13] and, despite its designation 'beta', is the fifth-brightest star in Virgo with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.604.[2] The distance to this star is around 35.7 light-years based on parallax;[1] it is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +4.1 km/s.[6] It is 0.69 of a degree north of the ecliptic, so it can be occulted by the Moon and (rarely) by planets. The next planetary occultation of Beta Virginis will take place on 09 november 2210, by Venus.[14]

β Virginis
(Zavijava)
Location of β Virginis (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Virgo
Right ascension 11h 50m 41.71824s[1]
Declination +01° 45′ 52.9910″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 3.604[2]
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage Main sequence[3] turnoff[4]
Spectral type F9 V[5]
U−B color index +0.090[2]
B−V color index +0.553[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+4.1[6] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +740.23[1] mas/yr
Dec.: −270.43[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)91.50 ± 0.22 mas[1]
Distance35.65 ± 0.09 ly
(10.93 ± 0.03 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)3.41[6]
Details
Mass1.413±0.061[3] M
Radius1.681±0.008[7] R
Luminosity3.572±0.052[7] L
Surface gravity (log g)4.125±0.010[3] cgs
Temperature6,132±26[7] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]0.20[8] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)4.3[9] km/s
Age2.9 ± 0.3,[6] ~3.3[4] Gyr
Other designations
Zavijava, Zavijah, Alaraph, Minelauva, β Vir, 5 Virginis, BD+02°2489, FK5 445, HD 102870, HIP 57757, HR 4540, SAO 119076[10]
Database references
SIMBADdata
ARICNSdata

Properties

edit

This is an F-type main-sequence star with a stellar classification of F9 V,[5] which means it is generating energy through core hydrogen fusion. Sun-like oscillations have been detected in Beta Virginis, allowing its internal structure to be modeled in more detail.[15] It is around 2.9[6] to 3.3[4] billion years old with a projected rotational velocity of 4.3 km/s[9] and appears to be near the end of its main sequence lifetime.[3][4] Larger and more massive than the Sun, it is comparatively metal-rich (that is, it has a higher preponderance of elements heavier than helium).[8] It is radiating 3.6[7] times the luminosity of the Sun from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 6,132 K.[7]

According to Nelson & Angel (1998),[16] Beta Virginis could host two or three jovian planets in wide orbits. The authors have set an upper limit of 1.9, 5 and 23 Jupiter masses for the putative planets with orbital periods of 15, 25 and 50 years, respectively. Also Campbell et al. 1988[17] inferred the existence of planetary objects or even brown dwarfs around Beta Virginis. However, more recent studies have not confirmed the existence of any substellar companion around Beta Virginis yet. McDonald Observatory team has set limits to the presence of one or more planets[18] with masses between 0.16 and 4.2 Jupiter masses and average separations spanning between 0.05 and 5.2 astronomical units.

Nomenclature

edit

β Virginis (Latinised to Beta Virginis) is the star's Bayer designation.

It bore the traditional names Zavijava (also Zavijah, Zavyava and Zawijah) and Alaraph.[19] Zavijava is from the Arabic زاوية العواء zāwiyat al-cawwa’ 'corner of the barking (dog)'. In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)[20] to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN approved the name Zavijava for this star on 21 August 2016 and it is now so entered in the IAU Catalog of Star Names.[13]

In Chinese, 太微右垣 (Tài Wēi Yòu Yuán), meaning Right Wall of Supreme Palace Enclosure, refers to an asterism consisting of Beta Virginis, Sigma Leonis, Iota Leonis, Theta Leonis and Delta Leonis.[21] Consequently, the Chinese name for Beta Virginis itself is 太微右垣一 (Tài Wēi Zuǒ Yuán yī, English: Supreme Palace Enclosure Right Wall One),[22] representing 右執法 (Yòuzhífǎ), meaning The Right Law Administrator.[23] 右執法 (Yòuzhífǎ), spelled Yew Chi Fa by R.H. Allen, means "the Right-hand Maintainer of Law".[24]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f 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. S2CID 18759600.
  2. ^ a b c d Gutierrez-Moreno, Adelina; Moreno, Hugo (June 1968), "A photometric investigation of the Scorpio-Centaurus association", Astrophysical Journal Supplement, 15: 459, Bibcode:1968ApJS...15..459G, doi:10.1086/190168
  3. ^ a b c d North, J. R.; et al. (February 2009). "The radius and other fundamental parameters of the F9V star β Virginis". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 393 (1): 245–252. arXiv:0811.1804. Bibcode:2009MNRAS.393..245N. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.14216.x. S2CID 14817266.
  4. ^ a b c d Howes, Louise M.; Lindegren, Lennart; Feltzing, Sofia; Church, Ross P.; Bensby, Thomas (2019-02-01). "Estimating stellar ages and metallicities from parallaxes and broadband photometry: successes and shortcomings". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 622: A27. arXiv:1804.08321. Bibcode:2019A&A...622A..27H. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201833280. ISSN 0004-6361.
  5. ^ a b Morgan, W. W.; Keenan, P. C. (1973), "Spectral Classification", Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 11 (1): 29, Bibcode:1973ARA&A..11...29M, doi:10.1146/annurev.aa.11.090173.000333
  6. ^ a b c d e Holmberg, J.; et al. (July 2009), "The Geneva-Copenhagen survey of the solar neighbourhood. III. Improved distances, ages, and kinematics", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 501 (3): 941–947, arXiv:0811.3982, Bibcode:2009A&A...501..941H, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200811191, S2CID 118577511
  7. ^ a b c d e Boyajian, Tabetha S.; et al. (February 2012), "Stellar Diameters and Temperatures. I. Main-sequence A, F, and G Stars", The Astrophysical Journal, 746 (1): 101, arXiv:1112.3316, Bibcode:2012ApJ...746..101B, doi:10.1088/0004-637X/746/1/101, S2CID 18993744. See Table 10.
  8. ^ a b Gehren, T. (1978). "On the chemical composition and age of Beta VIR". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 65 (3): 427–433. Bibcode:1978A&A....65..427G.
  9. ^ a b Carrier, F.; et al. (2005). "Solar-like oscillations in the F9 V β Virginis". New Astronomy. 10 (4): 315–323. arXiv:astro-ph/0502014. Bibcode:2005NewA...10..315C. doi:10.1016/j.newast.2004.11.003. S2CID 17064311.
  10. ^ "* bet Vir". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
  11. ^ Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006). A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub. ISBN 978-1-931559-44-7.
  12. ^ Davis, George A. (1944). "The pronunciations, derivations, and meanings of a selected list of star names". Popular Astronomy. 52: 8–30. Bibcode:1944PA.....52....8D.
  13. ^ a b "IAU Catalog of Star Names". Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  14. ^ "SolexHeading". www.solexorb.it. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  15. ^ Eggenberger, P.; Carrier, F. (April 2006). "Modeling β Virginis using seismological data". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 449 (1): 293–303. arXiv:astro-ph/0602279. Bibcode:2006A&A...449..293E. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20052882. S2CID 11962689.
  16. ^ Nelson, A. F.; Angel, J. R. P. (June 1998). "The Range of Masses and Periods Explored by Radial Velocity Searches for Planetary Companions". The Astrophysical Journal. 500 (2): 940–957. arXiv:astro-ph/9802194. Bibcode:1998ApJ...500..940N. doi:10.1086/305741. S2CID 5533361.
  17. ^ Murdoch, Kaylene A.; et al. (August 1993). "A Search for Substellar Companions to Southern Solar-Type Stars". Astrophysical Journal. 413: 349. Bibcode:1993ApJ...413..349M. doi:10.1086/173003.
  18. ^ Wittenmyer, Robert A.; et al. (July 2006). "Detection Limits from the McDonald Observatory Planet Search Program". The Astronomical Journal. 132 (1): 177–188. arXiv:astro-ph/0604171. Bibcode:2006AJ....132..177W. doi:10.1086/504942. S2CID 16755455.
  19. ^ Atlas of the Heavens, part II, catalogue, Antonín Bečvář
  20. ^ "IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)". Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  21. ^ (in Chinese) 中國星座神話, written by 陳久金. Published by 台灣書房出版有限公司, 2005, ISBN 978-986-7332-25-7.
  22. ^ (in Chinese) 香港太空館 - 研究資源 - 亮星中英對照表 Archived 2010-08-19 at the Wayback Machine, Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.
  23. ^ (in Chinese) English-Chinese Glossary of Chinese Star Regions, Asterisms and Star Name Archived 2010-08-10 at the Wayback Machine, Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.
  24. ^ Allen, Richard Hinckley (1963). Virgo (Dover ed.). Retrieved 2021-01-19. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
edit
  • Kaler, James B. (2007). "Zavijava". STARS. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  • "Zavijah". Alcyone. Retrieved 2007-06-06.