Lambda Herculis

Lambda Herculis (λ Herculis. abbreviated Lambda Her, λ Her), formally named Maasym /ˈmeɪəsɪm/,[8] is a star in the constellation of Hercules. From parallax measurements taken during the Hipparcos mission, it is approximately 370 light-years from the Sun.

Lambda Herculis
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Hercules
Right ascension  17h 30m 44.3099s[1]
Declination +26° 06′ 38.323″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.402[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type K4III[2]
U−B color index +1.68[3]
B−V color index +1.44[3]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−26.51[4] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +18.39[1] mas/yr
Dec.: +16.78[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)8.88 ± 0.64[1] mas
Distance370 ± 30 ly
(113 ± 8 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−0.86[5]
Details
Luminosity465[5] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)1.89[6] cgs
Temperature4,070[6] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.04[6] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)8[7] km/s
Other designations
λ Her, 76 Herculis, BD+26° 3034, FK5 1460, HD 158899, HIP 85693, HR 6526, SAO 249461[2]
Database references
SIMBADdata

Nomenclature

λ Herculis (Latinised to Lambda Herculis) is the star's Bayer designation.

It bore the traditional name Maasym, from the Arabic مِعْصَم‎ miʽṣam "wrist". In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)[9] to catalogue and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN approved the name Maasym for this star on 12 September 2016 and it is now so included in the List of IAU-approved Star Names.[8]

In Chinese, 天市左垣 (Tiān Shì Zuǒ Yuán), meaning Left Wall of Heavenly Market Enclosure, refers to an asterism which represents eleven old states in China and which is marking the left borderline of the enclosure, consisting of Lambda Herculis, Delta Herculis, Mu Herculis, Omicron Herculis, 112 Herculis, Zeta Aquilae, Theta1 Serpentis, Eta Serpentis, Nu Ophiuchi, Xi Serpentis and Eta Ophiuchi.[10] Consequently, the Chinese name for Lambda Herculis itself is 天市左垣二 (Tiān Shì Zuǒ Yuán èr, English: the Second Star of Left Wall of Heavenly Market Enclosure), and represents the state Zhao (or Chaou (趙)),[11][12] together with 26 Capricorni and 27 Capricorni ("m Capricorni" in R.H.Allen version[13]) in Twelve States (asterism).

Description

Lambda Herculis has apparent magnitude +4.4 spectral class K4III, indicating that it is a red giant with a temperature of 4,070 K. Visually it has an absolute magnitude of −0.86, meaning it is nearly 200 times brighter than the sun, but its bolometric luminosity across all wavelengths is 465 L☉.

In 1783, English-German astronomer William Herschel described the solar apex, the point in sky towards which the Solar System is moving; using data from double stars, he identified this position as close to Lambda Herculis. Today it is known the solar apex is not so close to this star, however it is only 10° away from the position currently accepted (in Hercules, southwest of Vega).[14][15][16]

References
  1. Perryman, M. A. C.; et al. (1997), "The Hipparcos Catalogue", Astronomy & Astrophysics, 323: L49–L52, Bibcode:1997A&A...323L..49P
  2. "lam Her -- Variable Star". SIMBAD. Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2010-07-03.
  3. Johnson, H. L.; Iriarte, B.; Mitchell, R. I.; Wisniewskj, W. Z. (1966). "UBVRIJKL photometry of the bright stars". Communications of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. 4 (99): 99. Bibcode:1966CoLPL...4...99J.
  4. Famaey, B.; Jorissen, A.; Luri, X.; Mayor, M.; Udry, S.; Dejonghe, H.; Turon, C. (January 2005). "Local kinematics of K and M giants from CORAVEL/Hipparcos/Tycho-2 data. Revisiting the concept of superclusters". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 430: 165–186. arXiv:astro-ph/0409579. Bibcode:2005A&A...430..165F. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20041272.
  5. Anderson, E.; Francis, Ch. (2012), "XHIP: An extended hipparcos compilation", Astronomy Letters, 38 (5): 331, arXiv:1108.4971, Bibcode:2012AstL...38..331A, doi:10.1134/S1063773712050015.
  6. McWilliam, Andrew (December 1990). "High-resolution spectroscopic survey of 671 GK giants. I - Stellar atmosphere parameters and abundances". Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 74: 1075–1128. Bibcode:1990ApJS...74.1075M. doi:10.1086/191527.
  7. Bernacca, P. L.; Perinotto, M. (1970). "A catalogue of stellar rotational velocities". Contributi Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova in Asiago. 239 (1). Bibcode:1970CoAsi.239....1B.
  8. "Naming Stars". IAU.org. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  9. IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN), International Astronomical Union, retrieved 22 May 2016.
  10. (in Chinese) 中國星座神話, written by 陳久金. Published by 台灣書房出版有限公司, 2005, ISBN 978-986-7332-25-7.
  11. (in Chinese) 香港太空館 - 研究資源 - 亮星中英對照表 Archived 2011-01-30 at the Wayback Machine, Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.
  12. (in Chinese) English-Chinese Glossary of Chinese Star Regions, Asterisms and Star Name Archived 2008-09-24 at the Wayback Machine, Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.
  13. Star Names - R.H.Allen p.142
  14. Lankford, John (1997). History of astronomy: an encyclopedia. Garland encyclopedias in the history of science. 1. Taylor & Francis. p. 258. ISBN 0-8153-0322-X.
  15. Herschel, William (1783). "On the Proper Motion of the Sun and Solar System; With an Account of Several Changes That Have Happened among the Fixed Stars since the Time of Mr. Flamstead". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. 73: 247–83. doi:10.1098/rstl.1783.0017. JSTOR 106492.
  16. Kaler, Jim. "Furud". Retrieved 2017-04-26.
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