Delta Columbae is a binary star system in the constellation Columba. It can be seen with the naked eye having an apparent visual magnitude of 3.85.[2] The distance to this system, based upon an annual parallax shift of 13.94 mas,[1] is around 234 lightyears.
Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS) | |
---|---|
Constellation | Columba |
Right ascension | 06h 22m 06.82831s[1] |
Declination | −33° 26′ 11.0323″[1] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 3.85[2] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | G7 II[3] |
U−B color index | +0.52[2] |
B−V color index | +0.88[2] |
Astrometry | |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: −24.23[1] mas/yr Dec.: −51.40[1] mas/yr |
Parallax (π) | 13.94 ± 0.51 mas[1] |
Distance | 234 ± 9 ly (72 ± 3 pc) |
Absolute magnitude (MV) | −0.32[4] |
Orbit[5][6] | |
Period (P) | 868.78 d |
Semi-major axis (a) | 9.02±0.52 mas |
Eccentricity (e) | 0.7 |
Inclination (i) | 116.3±4.2° |
Periastron epoch (T) | 2419915.02 JD |
Argument of periastron (ω) (secondary) | 117.1° |
Semi-amplitude (K1) (primary) | 10.6 km/s |
Details | |
δ Col A | |
Luminosity | 149.5[7] L☉ |
Surface gravity (log g) | 2.49[8] cgs |
Temperature | 5,136[4] K |
Metallicity [Fe/H] | −0.04[8] dex |
Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 4.8±0.2[4] km/s |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
Delta Columbae was a latter designation of 3 Canis Majoris, as the early astronomers Johann Bayer and John Flamsteed did not include the constellation Columba in their star charts.[10] It has the uncommon traditional name Ghusn al Zaitun, from the Arabic الغصن الزيتون al-ghuşn al-zaitūn "the olive branch" (carried by the dove of Noah's Ark).[citation needed]
This is a single-lined spectroscopic binary system with an orbital period of 868.78 days and an eccentricity of 0.7.[5] It has a peculiar velocity of 30.2±3.9 km/s, making it a candidate runaway star system. The primary component is a G-type bright giant star with a stellar classification of G7 II.[3] It radiates around 149[7] time the solar luminosity from its outer atmosphere at an effective temperature of 5,136 K.[4]