Gamma Serpentis
Encyclopedia
Gamma Serpentis is a star
in the constellation
Serpens
, in its head (Serpens Caput). It was a member of indigenous Arabic asterism
al-Nasaq al-Sha'āmī, "the Northern Line" of al-Nasaqān "the Two Lines", along with β Her
(Kornephoros), γ Her
(Hejian, Ho Keen) and β Ser
(Chow).
According to the catalogue of stars in the Technical Memorandum 33-507 - A Reduced Star Catalog Containing 537 Named Stars, al-Nasaq al-Sha'āmī or Nasak Shamiya were the title for three stars :β Ser
as Nasak Shamiya I, γ Ser as Nasak Shamiya II, γ Her
as Nasak Shamiya III (exclude β Her
). The star was later given the proper name Ainalhai, from the Arabic
عين الحية ‘Ayn al-Ḥayyah "the Serpent
's Eye".
In Chinese
, , meaning Right Wall of Heavenly Market Enclosure
, refers to an asterism which is represent eleven old states in China which is marking the right borderline of the enclosure, consisting of γ Serpentis, β Herculis
, γ Herculis
, κ Herculis
, β Serpentis
, δ Serpentis
, α Serpentis
, ε Serpentis
, δ Ophiuchi
, ε Ophiuchi
and ζ Ophiuchi
. Consequently, γ Serpentis itself is known as , represent the state Zheng
(鄭) (or Ching), together with 20 Capricorni in Twelve States
(asterism).
main sequence dwarf
with an apparent magnitude
of +3.85. Occasionally Gamma Serpentis is listed as having two 10th magnitude companions, but it appears that these stars are just optical neighbours. The Gamma Serpentis system is approximately 36.3 light years
from Earth
.
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....
Serpens
Serpens
Serpens is a constellation of the northern hemisphere. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union....
, in its head (Serpens Caput). It was a member of indigenous Arabic asterism
Asterism (astronomy)
In astronomy, an asterism is a pattern of stars recognized on Earth's night sky. It may form part of an official constellation, or be composed of stars from more than one. Like constellations, asterisms are in most cases composed of stars which, while they are visible in the same general direction,...
al-Nasaq al-Sha'āmī, "the Northern Line" of al-Nasaqān "the Two Lines", along with β Her
Beta Herculis
Beta Herculis , which also has the name Kornephoros, is the brightest star in the constellation of Hercules. It has an apparent visual magnitude which varies between 2.76 and 2.81.Although β Herculis appears to the naked eye to be a single star, W. W...
(Kornephoros), γ Her
Gamma Herculis
Gamma Herculis is a magnitude 3.74 binary star in the constellation Hercules. It is a giant star with a stellar classification of A9III that is located at a distance of about 195 light years from the Earth.-Name:...
(Hejian, Ho Keen) and β Ser
Beta Serpentis
Beta Serpentis is a star system in the constellation Serpens, in its head . It was a member of indigenous Arabic asterism al-Nasaq al-Sha'āmī, "the Northern Line" of al-Nasaqān "the Two Lines", along with β Her , γ Her and γ Ser .According to the catalogue of stars in the Technical Memorandum...
(Chow).
According to the catalogue of stars in the Technical Memorandum 33-507 - A Reduced Star Catalog Containing 537 Named Stars, al-Nasaq al-Sha'āmī or Nasak Shamiya were the title for three stars :β Ser
Beta Serpentis
Beta Serpentis is a star system in the constellation Serpens, in its head . It was a member of indigenous Arabic asterism al-Nasaq al-Sha'āmī, "the Northern Line" of al-Nasaqān "the Two Lines", along with β Her , γ Her and γ Ser .According to the catalogue of stars in the Technical Memorandum...
as Nasak Shamiya I, γ Ser as Nasak Shamiya II, γ Her
Gamma Herculis
Gamma Herculis is a magnitude 3.74 binary star in the constellation Hercules. It is a giant star with a stellar classification of A9III that is located at a distance of about 195 light years from the Earth.-Name:...
as Nasak Shamiya III (exclude β Her
Beta Herculis
Beta Herculis , which also has the name Kornephoros, is the brightest star in the constellation of Hercules. It has an apparent visual magnitude which varies between 2.76 and 2.81.Although β Herculis appears to the naked eye to be a single star, W. W...
). The star was later given the proper name Ainalhai, from the Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
عين الحية ‘Ayn al-Ḥayyah "the Serpent
Serpens
Serpens is a constellation of the northern hemisphere. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union....
's Eye".
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 Right Wall of Heavenly Market Enclosure
Heavenly Market enclosure
Tian Shi Yuan, the Heavenly Market Enclosure , is one of the San Yuan or Three enclosures. Stars and constellations of this group are visible during late summer and early autumn in the Northern Hemisphere . The summer triangle lies directly to the northwest.-Asterisms:The asterisms are :...
, refers to an asterism which is represent eleven old states in China which is marking the right borderline of the enclosure, consisting of γ Serpentis, β Herculis
Beta Herculis
Beta Herculis , which also has the name Kornephoros, is the brightest star in the constellation of Hercules. It has an apparent visual magnitude which varies between 2.76 and 2.81.Although β Herculis appears to the naked eye to be a single star, W. W...
, γ Herculis
Gamma Herculis
Gamma Herculis is a magnitude 3.74 binary star in the constellation Hercules. It is a giant star with a stellar classification of A9III that is located at a distance of about 195 light years from the Earth.-Name:...
, κ Herculis
Kappa Herculis
Kappa Herculis is a double star in the constellation Hercules. Traditional names that have been attributed to the star are "Marfik", "Marfak" or "Marsic", all of which come from the Arabic لمرفق Al-Mirfaq meaning "the elbow", a name it shares with Lambda Ophiuchi.- Properties :Kappa Herculis is a...
, β Serpentis
Beta Serpentis
Beta Serpentis is a star system in the constellation Serpens, in its head . It was a member of indigenous Arabic asterism al-Nasaq al-Sha'āmī, "the Northern Line" of al-Nasaqān "the Two Lines", along with β Her , γ Her and γ Ser .According to the catalogue of stars in the Technical Memorandum...
, δ Serpentis
Delta Serpentis
Delta Serpentis is a star system in the constellation Serpens, in its head . It was a member of indigenous Arabic asterism al-Nasaq al-Yamānī, "the Southern Line" of al-Nasaqān "the Two Lines"., along with α Ser , ε Ser , δ Oph , ε Oph , ζ Oph and γ Oph .According to the...
, α Serpentis
Alpha Serpentis
Alpha Serpentis is a triple star system in the constellation Serpens, in its head . Alpha Serpentis has the proper names Unukalhai, from the Arabic عنق الحية ‘Unuq al-Ħayyah "the Serpent's Neck", and Cor Serpentis from the Latin "the Heart of the Serpent"...
, ε Serpentis
Epsilon Serpentis
Epsilon Serpentis is a star in the constellation Serpens, in its head .It was a member of indigenous Arabic asterism al-Nasaq al-Yamānī, "the Southern Line" of al-Nasaqān "the Two Lines"., along with α Ser , δ Ser , δ Oph , ε Oph , ζ Oph and γ Oph .According to the...
, δ Ophiuchi
Delta Ophiuchi
Delta Ophiuchi is a star in the constellation Ophiuchus. It has the traditional name Yed Prior ....
, ε Ophiuchi
Epsilon Ophiuchi
Epsilon Ophiuchi is a star in the constellation Ophiuchus. It has the traditional name Yed Posterior ....
and ζ Ophiuchi
Zeta Ophiuchi
Zeta Ophiuchi is a star located in the constellation of Ophiuchus. It was a member of indigenous Arabic asterism al-Nasaq al-Yamānī, "the Southern Line" of al-Nasaqān "the Two Lines"., along with α Ser , δ Ser , ε Ser , δ Oph , ε Ser and γ Oph .According to the catalogue of stars...
. Consequently, γ Serpentis itself is known as , represent the state Zheng
Zheng (state)
Zheng （) was a vassal state in China during the Zhou Dynasty located in the centre of ancient China in modern day Henan Province on the North China Plain about east of the royal capital at Luoyang. It was the most powerful of the vassal states at the beginning of the Eastern Zhou...
(鄭) (or Ching), together with 20 Capricorni in Twelve States
Girl (Chinese constellation)
The Girl mansion is one of the Twenty-eight mansions of the Chinese constellations. It is one of the northern mansions of the Black Tortoise.- Asterisms :...
(asterism).
Structure
Gamma Serpentis is a yellow-white F-typeStellar 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 an 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 +3.85. Occasionally Gamma Serpentis is listed as having two 10th magnitude companions, but it appears that these stars are just optical neighbours. The Gamma Serpentis system is approximately 36.3 light years
Light Years
Light Years is the seventh studio album by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue. It was released on 25 September 2000 by Parlophone and Mushroom Records. The album's style was indicative of her return to "mainstream pop dance tunes"....
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...
.
External links
- Gamma Serpentis by Professor Jim Kaler.