Astronomy and Space

Alpha Monocerotis

Alpha Monocerotis, Latinised from α Monocerotis, is the Bayer designation for a star in the equatorial constellation of Monoceros. It can be viewed with the naked eye, having an apparent visual magnitude of 3.94. Despite being labeled "alpha", it is not the brightest star in the constellation; Beta Monocerotis is, though the individual stars of the latter are fainter. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 22.4 mas as seen from Earth, it is located 146 light-years away from the Sun. The star is moving away from the Sun with a radial velocity of +11.7 km/s. The stellar classification of G9.5 III-IIIb Fe-0.5 indicates this is an evolved giant star of type G, which means the hydrogen has been depleted at its core and the outer envelope has expanded and cooled. The 'Fe−0.5' notation indicates the spectrum displays a slight underabundance of iron relative to other stars of this temperature. It is a red clump giant, which means it is generating energy through helium fusion at its core. At the age of 890 million years, this yellow-hued star has an estimated 2.2 times the mass of the Sun and 10 times the Sun's radius. It is spinning sedately with a rotation period of about 326 days.

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See also

• ▸Gamma Lupi
• ▸Imperial County, California
• ▸Discovery and exploration of the Solar System

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