Beta Boötis

β Boötis

Location of β Boötis
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Boötes
Right ascension	15h 01m 56.7623s
Declination	+40° 23′ 26.036″
Apparent magnitude (V)	3.488
Characteristics
Spectral type	G8IIIaBa0.3Fe-0.5
U−B color index	0.72
B−V color index	0.92
R−I color index	0.44
Variable type	Flare star
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	-19.9 km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: -40.2 mas/yr Dec.: -29.22 mas/yr
Parallax (π)	14.91 ± 0.57 mas
Distance	219 ± 8 ly (67 ± 3 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	4.431
Details
Mass	1.1-3.0? M☉
Radius	19-32? R☉
Luminosity	~190 L☉
Temperature	5,000–6,000 K
Rotation	< 17 km/s 0,008981 Year
Other designations
Nakkar, Nekkar, Merez, Meres, Merets, 42 Boötis, HR 5602, HD 133208, BD+40°2840, FK5 555, HIP 73555, SAO 45337, GC 20226.
Database references
SIMBAD	data
Data sources:
Hipparcos Catalogue, CCDM (2002), Bright Star Catalogue (5th rev. ed.)

Beta Boötis (β Boo, β Boötis) is a variable star in the constellation Boötes.

Beta Boötis is a yellow G-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +3.49. It is approximately 219 light years from Earth.

Its traditional name Nekkar is a mis-transliteration of the Arabic بقّار baqqār "cattle driver", the Arabic letters b and n differing only in the placement of the dot. It has also been called Meres.

References

• HR 5602
• Image Beta Boötis
• The Constellations and Named Stars
• Nekkar at University of Illinois