Tau1 Arietis
Encyclopedia
Tau1 Arietis (τ1 Ari, τ1 Arietis) is a multiple star system
in the constellation
Aries
. It is approximately 462 light years from Earth.
The primary component, τ¹ Arietis A, is an eclipsing binary which is classified as a blue-white B-type
subgiant. The two components have apparent magnitude
s of +5.4 and +7.9 and are separated by 0.15 arcseconds. At 0.67 arcseconds from A is τ¹ Arietis B, which has an apparent magnitude of +8.4. The combined mean apparent magnitude of the system is +5.27, but due to eclipsing of the binary components, the brightness varies from magnitude +5.26 to +5.32.
Star system
A star system or stellar system is a small number of stars which orbit each other, bound by gravitational attraction. A large number of stars bound by gravitation is generally called a star cluster or galaxy, although, broadly speaking, they are also star systems.-Binary star systems:A stellar...
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....
Aries
Aries (constellation)
Aries is one of the constellations of the zodiac, located between Pisces to the west and Taurus to the east. Its name is Latin for ram, and its symbol is , representing a ram's horns...
. It is approximately 462 light years from Earth.
The primary component, τ¹ Arietis A, is an eclipsing binary which is classified as 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...
subgiant. The two components have 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...
s of +5.4 and +7.9 and are separated by 0.15 arcseconds. At 0.67 arcseconds from A is τ¹ Arietis B, which has an apparent magnitude of +8.4. The combined mean apparent magnitude of the system is +5.27, but due to eclipsing of the binary components, the brightness varies from magnitude +5.26 to +5.32.