Sigma2 Ursae Majoris Explained

Sigma2 Ursae Majoris (σ2 Ursae Majoris, σ2 UMa) is a binary star in the constellation of Ursa Major. Parallax measurements made by the Hipparcos spacecraft put it at a distance of about 66.5 light years (20.4 parsecs) from Earth, making this a fairly nearby system. The primary component has an apparent magnitude of about 4.8, meaning it can be seen with the naked eye (see Bortle scale).

This is a visual binary, meaning that the two components can be resolved, and the orbit is derived from the positions of the two stars. The primary component Sigma2 Ursae Majoris A, is a white-colored F-type subgiant. Its radius is about 1.75 times that of the Sun, and it is 31% more massive. The companion is an orange K-type main-sequence star that is much fainter. The two stars are separated about 4 arcseconds away, and because of their slow orbital motion the orbit is poorly known: estimates of the orbital period range from 970 years to over 1,500 years.[1] There is a third component, designated Sigma2 Ursae Majoris C. Located 205 arcseconds from the primary, it is thought to be a line-of-sight coincidence, and is not related to the system.

Naming

Notes and References

  1. Book-Review - Stars Their Birth Life and Death. Shklovskii, I. S.. Wenzel, W.. Astronomische Nachrichten. 301. 99. 1980. 1980AN....301...99S. 10.1002/asna.2103010207.
  2. AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 6 月 16 日