- Mu Geminorum
-
Mu Geminorum 
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)Constellation Gemini Right ascension 06h 22m 57.627s[1] Declination +22° 30′ 48.91″[1] Apparent magnitude (V) +2.75 to +3.02[2] Characteristics Spectral type M3.0IIIab[2] U−B color index 1.85[3] B−V color index 1.64[3] Variable type LB[2] Astrometry Parallax (π) 14.07 ± 0.93[1] mas Distance 230 ± 20 ly
(71 ± 5 pc)Other designations Mu Geminorum (μ Gem, μ Geminorum) is a star in the constellation Gemini, approximately 230 light years away from Earth.[1] It has the traditional name Tejat Posterior, which means back foot, because it is the foot of Castor, one of the Gemini twins. The names Calx (Latin, meaning heel), Nuhatai (from Arabic Al Nuḥātai, the dual form of Al Nuḥāt, "a Camel's Hump". This is the name of star association consisting this star, along with γ Gem - Alhena, ν Gem, η Gem - Tejat Prior and ξ Gem - Alzirr) and Pish Pai (from the Persian Pīshpāy, پیشپای, meaning foreleg) have also been applied to this star.[4][5][6]
In Chinese, 井宿 (Jǐng Su), meaning Well (asterism), refers to an asterism consisting of μ Geminorum, γ Geminorum, ν Geminorum, ξ Geminorum, ε Geminorum, 36 Geminorum, ζ Geminorum and λ Geminorum.[7] Consequently, μ Geminorum itself is known as 井宿一 (Jǐng Su yī, English: the First Star of Well.)[8]
Properties
Mu Geminorum is an irregular variable of type LB. Its brightness varies between magnitude +2.75 and +3.02 over a 72 day period, with a 2,000 day period of long term variation. It is a red giant of the spectral class M3, with a surface temperature of 3,650 kelvins, meaning it is brighter, yet cooler than our Sun.[2][4]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Simbad Query Result, V* mu. Gem". Simbad. http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=V*+mu.+Gem. Retrieved October 12, 2007.
- ^ a b c d mu Gem, entry in the Combined General Catalog of Variable Stars (GCVS4.2), N. N. Samus, O. V. Durlevich, et al., database identifier II/250 at the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg.
- ^ a b HR 2286, entry at the Bright Star Catalogue, 5th Revised Ed., D. Hoffleit and W. H. Warren, Jr., database identifier V/50 at the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg.
- ^ a b c Mu Geminorum at Jim Kaler's STARS.
- ^ a b p. 236, Star-names and Their Meanings, Richard Hinckley Allen, G. E. Stechert, 1899.
- ^ Astronomers Predict Eclipse of Naked-Eye Star by an Asteroid Monday Morning, Nov. 20 at Spaceref.com.
- ^ (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.
- ^ (Chinese) 香港太空館 - 研究資源 - 亮星中英對照表, Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.
Bayer α (Castor) • β (Pollux) • γ (Alhena) • δ (Wasat) • ε (Mebsuta) • ζ (Mekbuda) • η (Tejat Prior) • θ • ι • κ • λ • μ (Tejat Posterior) • ν • ξ (Alzirr) • ο • π • ρ • σ • τ • υ • φ • χ • ω • b • c • d • e • f • g • AFlamsteed 1 (Propus) • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 (η, Tejat Prior) • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 (μ, Tejat Posterior) • 14 • 15 • 16 • 18 (ν) • 19 • 20 • 22 • 23 • 24 (γ, Alhena) • 25 • 26 • 27 (ε, Mebsuta) • 28 • 30 • 31 (ξ, Alzirr) • 32 • 33 • 34 (θ) • 35 • 36 (d) • 37 • 38 (e) • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 (ω) • 43 (ζ, Mekbuda) • 44 • 45 • 46 (τ) • 47 • 48 • 49 • 51 • 52 • 53 • 54 (λ) • 55 (δ, Wasat) • 56 • 57 (A) • 58 • 59 • 60 (ι) • 61 • 62 (ρ) • 63 • 64 • 65 (b) • 66 (α, Castor) • 67 • 68 • 69 (υ) • 70 • 71 (ο) • 74 (f) • 75 (σ) • 76 (c) • 77 (κ) • 78 (β, Pollux) • 79 • 80 (π) • 81 (g) • 82 • 83 (φ) • 84 • 85 • 3 Lyn • 141 TauNearby Gliese 251 • GJ 1093 • Gl 232 • 2MASS 0727+1710Categories:- Bayer objects
- Flamsteed objects
- Gemini constellation
- Irregular variables
- M-type giants
- Stars with proper names
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