Zeta Herculis

Zeta Herculis
	Location of ζ Herculis (circled)
Observation data; Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000
Constellation	Hercules
Right ascension	16h 41m 17.16104s
Declination	+31° 36′ 09.7873″
Apparent magnitude (V)	2.81
Characteristics
Spectral type	F9 IV + G7 V
U−B color index	+0.21
B−V color index	+0.65
Variable type	Suspected
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	–68.43 km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: –461.52 mas/yr ; Dec.: +342.28 mas/yr
Parallax (π)	93.32 ± 0.47 mas
Distance	35.0 ± 0.2 ly ; (10.72 ± 0.05 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	2.65
Absolute bolometric; magnitude (Mbol)	2.699 / 5.254
Orbit
Period (P)	34.45 yr
Semi-major axis (a)	1.33″
Eccentricity (e)	0.46
Inclination (i)	131°
Longitude of the node (Ω)	50°
Periastron epoch (T)	1967.7
Argument of periastron (ω); (secondary)	111°
Details
ζ Her A
Mass	1.45±0.01 M☉
Radius	2.56–2.61 R☉
Luminosity	6.55±0.39 L☉
Surface gravity (log g)	3.4–3.6 cgs
Temperature	5,820±50 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]	0.04±0.003 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)	4.8 km/s
Age	6.2 Gyr
ζ Her B
Mass	0.98±0.02 M☉
Radius	0.915–0.920 R☉
Luminosity	0.62±0.06 L☉
Temperature	5,300±150 K
Other designations
	ζ Her, 40 Her, BD+31 2884, GJ 635, HD 150680, HIP 81693, HR 6212, SAO 65485, ADS 10157 AB, WDS J16413+3136AB, LHS 3234, LTT 14952
Database references
SIMBAD	data

Zeta Herculis, Latinized from ζ Herculis, is a multiple star system in the constellation Hercules. It has a combined apparent visual magnitude of 2.81,^[2] which is readily visible to the naked eye. Parallax measurements put it at a distance of about 35.0 light-years (10.7 parsecs) from Earth.^[1]

The primary member is a subgiant star that is somewhat larger than the Sun and has just begun to evolve away from the main sequence as the supply of hydrogen at its core becomes exhausted. It is orbited by a smaller companion star at a mean angular separation of 1.5 arcseconds, which corresponds to a physical separation of about 15 Astronomical Units.^[6] This distance is large enough so that the two stars do not have a significant tidal effect on each other. The stars orbit each other over a period of 34.45 years, with a semi-major axis of 1.33" and an eccentricity of 0.46.^[7]

Component A has a stellar classification of F9 IV.^[3] It has about 2.6 times the radius of the Sun and 1.45 times the Sun's mass. This star is radiating more than six times the luminosity of the Sun at an effective temperature of 5,820 K. The secondary component (Component B) is about the same size and mass as the Sun, with an effective temperature of 5,300 K. Both stars are rotating slowly.^[6] There may be a faint third member of this system, although little is known about it.^[9]

The dual nature of this system was reported by F. G. W. Struve in 1826.^[10] The pair orbit each other with a period of 34.45 years and an eccentricity of 0.46.^[7] The magnitude difference between the A-B pair is 1.52 ± 0.04 magnitudes (at 700 nm).^[11] Two astrometric studies have failed to detect a third component to the A-B binary.^[11]^[7]

This system forms part of the Zeta Herculis moving group of stars. This group includes: φ² Pavonis, ζ Reticuli, 1 Hydrae, Gl 456, Gl 678, and Gl 9079.^[12]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f van Leeuwen, F. (November 2007), "Validation of the new Hipparcos reduction", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 474 (2): 653–664, arXiv:0708.1752, Bibcode:2007A&A...474..653V, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078357, S2CID 18759600
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Johnson, H. L.; et al. (1966), "UBVRIJKL photometry of the bright stars", Communications of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, 4 (99): 99, Bibcode:1966CoLPL...4...99J
^ ^a ^b Edwards, T. W. (April 1976), "MK classification for visual binary components", Astronomical Journal, 81: 245–249, Bibcode:1976AJ.....81..245E, doi:10.1086/111879
^ Tokovinin, A. A.; Smekhov, M. G. (January 2002), "Statistics of spectroscopic sub-systems in visual multiple stars", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 382: 118–123, Bibcode:2002A&A...382..118T, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20011586
^ ^a ^b Pizzolato, N.; Maggio, A.; Sciortino, S. (September 2000), "Evolution of X-ray activity of 1-3 Msun late-type stars in early post-main-sequence phases", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 361: 614–628, Bibcode:2000A&A...361..614P
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Morel, P.; et al. (November 2001), "The zeta Herculis binary system revisited. Calibration and seismology", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 379: 245–256, arXiv:astro-ph/0110004, Bibcode:2001A&A...379..245M, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20011336, S2CID 119514991
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Söderhjelm, Staffan (January 1999), "Visual binary orbits and masses POST HIPPARCOS", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 341: 121–140, Bibcode:1999A&A...341..121S
^ Barry, Don C.; Cromwell, Richard H.; Hege, E. Keith (April 1987), "Chromospheric activity and ages of solar-type stars", Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, 315: 264–272, Bibcode:1987ApJ...315..264B, doi:10.1086/165131
^ Zhuchkov, R. Ya.; Orlov, V. V.; Rubinov, A. V. (May 2006), "Multiple stars with low hierarchy: stable or unstable?", Publications of the Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade, 80: 155–160, Bibcode:2006POBeo..80..155Z
^ Mason, B. D.; et al. (2014), "The Washington Visual Double Star Catalog", The Astronomical Journal, 122 (6): 3466–3471, Bibcode:2001AJ....122.3466M, doi:10.1086/323920.
^ ^a ^b Hutter, D. J.; Zavala, R. T.; Tycner, C.; Benson, J. A.; Hummel, C. A.; Sanborn, J.; Franz, O. G.; Johnston, K. J. (2016-11-01). "Surveying the Bright Stars by Optical Interferometry. I. A Search for Multiplicity among Stars of Spectral Types F-K". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 227 (1): 4. arXiv:1609.05254. Bibcode:2016ApJS..227....4H. doi:10.3847/0067-0049/227/1/4. ISSN 0067-0049. S2CID 118803592.
^ de Mello, G. F. Porto; da Silva, L. (1991), "On the physical existence of the Zeta HER moving group - A detailed analysis of Phi exp 2 Pavonis", Astronomical Journal, 102: 1816–1825, Bibcode:1991AJ....102.1816P, doi:10.1086/116006