Delta Sagittae Explained

Delta Sagittae (Delta Sge, δ Sagittae, δ Sge) is a binary star in the constellation of Sagitta, with an apparent magnitude of +3.68. The primary component is a red M-type bright giant, and the secondary is a B-type main-sequence star. It is approximately 430 light years from Earth, based on its Gaia Data Release 2 parallax.

Delta Sagittae is a spectroscopic binary with a composite spectrum, meaning that light from both stars can be detected. It has an orbital period of about 10 years and an eccentricity of about 0.44. It is also a variable star, with its brightness changing between a maximum of magnitude 3.75 and a minimum of 3.83 in an unpredictable way.

Delta Sagittae is moving through the Galaxy at a speed of 9.8 km/s relative to the Sun. Its projected Galactic orbit carries it between 23,800 and 35,300 light years from the center of the Galaxy.

Naming

In Chinese, Chinese: 左旗 (Chinese: Zuǒ Qí), meaning Left Flag, refers to an asterism consisting of δ Sagittae, α Sagittae, β Sagittae, ζ Sagittae, γ Sagittae, 13 Sagittae, 11 Sagittae, 14 Sagittae and ρ Aquilae. Consequently, the Chinese name for δ Sagittae itself is Chinese: 左旗三 (Chinese: Zuǒ Qí sān, English: the Third Star of Left Flag.)[1]

Notes and References

  1. AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 3 日