Xi Serpentis

Starbox short
name=ξ Serpentis
epoch=J2000.0
constell=Serpens
ra=17^h 37^m 35.2^s
dec=-15° 23' 55"
spectral=F0IIIp
appmag_v=+3.54
dist_ly=105 ± 4
dist_pc=32 ± 1
names=55 Serpentis, HR 6561,
HD 159876, SAO 160700,
HIP 86263, CCDM 17376-1524

Xi Serpentis (ξ Ser / ξ Serpentis) is a triple star system in the constellation Serpens. In the past, it was called by the traditional name Nehushtan (Hebrew נחושתן), which refers to the bronze serpent of Moses. When King Hezekiah destroyed the bronze serpent, opponents of Hezekiah protested by memorializing the serpent among the summer stars, with Ophiuchus representing Hezekiah, and Serpens representing Nehushtan. The opponents thought that destroying such a highly treasured bronze artifact, through which their God Yahweh performed a saving miracle, was an attack on Israelite-Hebrew history and heritage.

The primary star, Xi Serpentis A, is a yellow-white F-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +3.54. It is a spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of 2.29 days. A 13th magnitude companion, Xi Serpentis B, is located 25 arcseconds from the primary pair. Xi Serpentis is approximately 105 light years from Earth.

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