Xi Andromedae
Encyclopedia
Xi Andromedae is a binary star
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...

 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....

 Andromeda
Andromeda (constellation)
Andromeda is a constellation in the northern sky. It is named after Andromeda, the princess in the Greek legend of Perseus who was chained to a rock to be eaten by the sea monster Cetus...

. It bears the traditional name Adhil
Adhil
The name Adhil has been applied to a number of stars, especially in the constellation Andromeda.- Origin :Adhil was originally applied to the description of Ptolemy's 21st and 22nd of Andromeda in his star catalogue in Latin translated version of Almagest.- Renaissance times :However Bayer gave...

, which is derived from the Arabic الذيل að-ðayl "the train
Train (clothing)
A train in clothing is the long back portion of a skirt or dress that writes a trail on the ground behind the wearer in ruler , or a separate trailing overskirt. It is a common part of a court dress or a wedding dress....

" (lit. "the tail"). It has 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 +4.875.

Xi Andromedae is actually a spectroscopic binary, two stars rotating too closely to each other to be separated other than by difference in their respective spectra. Orbiting each other every 17.77 days, the two stars lie around 196 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 the 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...

, (parallax of 16.68 mas).

John Flamsteed
John Flamsteed
Sir John Flamsteed FRS was an English astronomer and the first Astronomer Royal. He catalogued over 3000 stars.- Life :Flamsteed was born in Denby, Derbyshire, England, the only son of Stephen Flamsteed...

 did not designate this star Bayer Cha.
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...

as number 46th of Andromeda in his star catalogue and atlas. He wrongly designated "ξ" for his 49th of Andromeda
49 Andromedae
49 Andromedae is a star in the constellation Andromeda. Its apparent magnitude is 5.27....

(Bayer's "A" And).
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