| Zeta
Aqr |
Long
Period Binary Star System
55
Aqr, HR 8558, HD 213051, SAO 146107, PPM 181465, HIP 110960,
BD -00 04365,
GC
31398, ADS 15971, TYC 05226-1605 1, GSC 05226-1605
Visual
Magnitude: 3.6
Distance: 100 ly
Minimum
requirements to view: unaided eye and suburban sky |
|
Zeta Aqr is
long-period binary star system. The component stars are a closely
matched pair, appearing white in color. The magnitudes are 3.7 and
4.6, and they are currently separated by 2.2" (September 2009).
The pair is striking in a 6" telescope, and should be cleanly
separated on a night of good seeing.
These stars take nearly
900 years to orbit once. Currently they are separating very slowly.
Above: the pair in a
6" at 270x. North is down, east is right.
The motion of the
secondary star relative the the brighter primary for 100 years.
North is up and east is left.
|
Millennium
Star Atlas Vol III Chart 1283
Sky
Atlas 2000 Chart 17
Uranometria
2000 Vol I&II Chart 257 |
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