Epsilon Capricorni
Encyclopedia
Epsilon Capricorni is a triple star system in the constellation
Capricornus
. It also has the traditional star name Castra or Kastra, meaning "fort" or "military camp
" in Latin
. It is approximately 660 light years from Earth
.
In Chinese
, , meaning Line of Ramparts
, refers to an asterism consisting of ε Capricorni, κ Capricorni
, γ Capricorni
, δ Capricorni
, ι Aquarii
, σ Aquarii
, λ Aquarii
, φ Aquarii
, 27 Piscium, 29 Piscium, 33 Piscium and 30 Piscium. Consequently, ε Capricorni itself is known as
The primary component, ε Capricorni A, is a blue-white B-type
main sequence dwarf
with a mean apparent magnitude
of +4.51. It is classified as a Gamma Cassiopeiae type variable star
and its brightness varies from magnitude +4.48 to +4.72. It is a spectroscopic binary, and the two subcomponents have apparent magnitudes of +5.0 and +6.3 and are separated by 0.0047 arcseconds (1 AU
).
Further out, 68 arcseconds away, is ε Capricorni B which is at least 13,000 AU, or 0.22 light years away from the close binary. It is an orange K-type
giant
with an apparent magnitude of +9.5.
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....
Capricornus
Capricornus
Capricornus is one of the constellations of the zodiac; it is often called Capricorn, especially when referring to the corresponding astrological sign. Its name is Latin for "horned male goat" or "goat horn", and it is commonly represented in the form of a sea-goat: a mythical creature that is half...
. It also has the traditional star name Castra or Kastra, meaning "fort" or "military camp
Military camp
A military camp or bivouac is a semi-permanent facility for the lodging of an army. Camps are erected when a military force travels away from a major installation or fort during training or operations, and often have the form of large campsites. In the Roman era the military camp had highly...
" in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
. It is approximately 660 light years from Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
.
In Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
, , meaning Line of Ramparts
Encampment (Chinese constellation)
The Encampment mansion is one of the Twenty-eight mansions of the Chinese constellations. It is one of the northern mansions of the Black Tortoise.-Asterisms:...
, refers to an asterism consisting of ε Capricorni, κ Capricorni
Kappa Capricorni
Kappa Capricorni is a star in the constellation Capricornus. κ Capricorni is a yellow G-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +4.72 and is approximately 291 light years from Earth....
, γ Capricorni
Gamma Capricorni
Gamma Capricorni is a giant star in the constellation Capricornus. It has the traditional name Nashira, which comes from the Arabic سعد ناشرة - sa'd nashirah for "the lucky one" or "bearer of good news"....
, δ Capricorni
Delta Capricorni
Delta Capricorni , also traditionally named Deneb Algedi and Scheddi, is a quaternary star system approximately 39 light-years away in the constellation of Capricornus . The primary star in the system is a white giant star and the combined light of its four members makes it the brightest "single"...
, ι Aquarii
Iota Aquarii
Iota Aquarii is a star in the constellation Aquarius.Iota Aquarii is a blue-white B-type subgiant with an apparent magnitude of +4.29. It is approximately 173 light years from Earth.-References:*...
, σ Aquarii
Sigma Aquarii
Sigma Aquarii is a double star in the constellation Aquarius. It is approximately 265 light years from Earth.Sigma Aquarii is an astrometric binary. The visible component is a white A-type subgiant with an apparent magnitude of +4.82. The orbital period of the binary is 654 days.-References:*...
, λ Aquarii
Lambda Aquarii
Lambda Aquarii is a star in the constellation Aquarius. It has the obscure traditional names Hydor and Ekkhysis, from the ancient Greek ὕδωρ "water" and ἔκχυσις "outpouring"....
, φ Aquarii
Phi Aquarii
Phi Aquarii is a star in the constellation Aquarius.Phi Aquarii is a M-type red giant with an apparent magnitude of +4.22. It is approximately 222 light years from Earth.-References:*...
, 27 Piscium, 29 Piscium, 33 Piscium and 30 Piscium. Consequently, ε Capricorni itself is known as
The primary component, ε Capricorni A, is a blue-white B-type
Stellar classification
In astronomy, stellar classification is a classification of stars based on their spectral characteristics. The spectral class of a star is a designated class of a star describing the ionization of its chromosphere, what atomic excitations are most prominent in the light, giving an objective measure...
main sequence dwarf
Main sequence
The main sequence is a continuous and distinctive band of stars that appears on plots of stellar color versus brightness. These color-magnitude plots are known as Hertzsprung–Russell diagrams after their co-developers, Ejnar Hertzsprung and Henry Norris Russell...
with a mean apparent magnitude
Apparent magnitude
The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...
of +4.51. It is classified as a Gamma Cassiopeiae type variable star
Variable star
A star is classified as variable if its apparent magnitude as seen from Earth changes over time, whether the changes are due to variations in the star's actual luminosity, or to variations in the amount of the star's light that is blocked from reaching Earth...
and its brightness varies from magnitude +4.48 to +4.72. It is a spectroscopic binary, and the two subcomponents have apparent magnitudes of +5.0 and +6.3 and are separated by 0.0047 arcseconds (1 AU
Astronomical unit
An astronomical unit is a unit of length equal to about or approximately the mean Earth–Sun distance....
).
Further out, 68 arcseconds away, is ε Capricorni B which is at least 13,000 AU, or 0.22 light years away from the close binary. It is an orange K-type
Stellar classification
In astronomy, stellar classification is a classification of stars based on their spectral characteristics. The spectral class of a star is a designated class of a star describing the ionization of its chromosphere, what atomic excitations are most prominent in the light, giving an objective measure...
giant
Giant star
A giant star is a star with substantially larger radius and luminosity than a main sequence star of the same surface temperature. Typically, giant stars have radii between 10 and 100 solar radii and luminosities between 10 and 1,000 times that of the Sun. Stars still more luminous than giants are...
with an apparent magnitude of +9.5.