Beta Leonis Minoris
Encyclopedia
Beta Leonis Minoris (Beta LMi, β Leonis Minoris, β LMi) is a binary
star
in the constellation
of Leo Minor. It has an overall apparent visual magnitude of approximately 4.215. Although it is the only star in Leo Minor with a Bayer designation
, it is only the second brightest star in the constellation (the brightest is 46 Leonis Minoris
.)
Binary star
A binary star is a star system consisting of two stars orbiting around their common center of mass. The brighter star is called the primary and the other is its companion star, comes, or secondary...
star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
in the constellation
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
of Leo Minor. It has an overall apparent visual magnitude of approximately 4.215. Although it is the only star in Leo Minor with a Bayer designation
Bayer designation
A Bayer designation is a stellar designation in which a specific star is identified by a Greek letter, followed by the genitive form of its parent constellation's Latin name...
, it is only the second brightest star in the constellation (the brightest is 46 Leonis Minoris
46 Leonis Minoris
46 Leonis Minoris is the brightest star in the constellation Leo Minor. It is sometimes known as "o LMi" , from Bode's catalogue of 1801...
.)