Xi Geminorum
Encyclopedia
Xi Geminorum is a star
in the constellation
Gemini
. It has the traditional name Alzirr, meaning "the button" in Arabic.
This star, along with γ Gem
(Alhena), μ Gem
(Tejat Posterior), ν Gem and η Gem
(Tejat Prior) were Al Han'ah, "the brand" (on the neck of the camel). They also were associated in Al Nuḥātai, the dual form of Al Nuḥāt, "a Camel's Hump"
In Chinese
, , meaning Well
(asterism), refers to an asterism consisting of ξ Geminorum, μ Geminorum
, ν Geminorum, γ Geminorum
, ε Geminorum
, 36 Geminorum, ζ Geminorum
and λ Geminorum
. Consequently, ξ Geminorum itself is known as
F6 and has apparent magnitude
+3.4. It is 64 light years from Earth
.
Coordinates (J2000):
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....
Gemini
Gemini (constellation)
Gemini is one of the constellations of the zodiac. It was one of the 48 constellations described by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations today. Its name is Latin for "twins", and it is associated with the twins Castor and Pollux in Greek mythology...
. It has the traditional name Alzirr, meaning "the button" in Arabic.
This star, along with γ Gem
Gamma Geminorum
Gamma Geminorum is the second brightest star in the constellation Gemini. It has the traditional names Alhena and Almeisan....
(Alhena), μ Gem
Mu Geminorum
Mu Geminorum is a star in the constellation Gemini, approximately 230 light years away from Earth. It has the traditional name Tejat Posterior, which means back foot, because it is the foot of Castor, one of the Gemini twins...
(Tejat Posterior), ν Gem and η Gem
Eta Geminorum
Eta Geminorum is a triple star system in the constellation Gemini. It has the traditional names Tejat Prior, Propus and Praepes and Pish Pai ....
(Tejat Prior) were Al Han'ah, "the brand" (on the neck of the camel). They also were associated in Al Nuḥātai, the dual form of Al Nuḥāt, "a Camel's Hump"
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 Well
Well (Chinese constellation)
The Well mansion is one of the Twenty-eight mansions of the Chinese constellations. It is one of the southern mansions of the Vermilion Bird.-Asterisms:...
(asterism), refers to an asterism consisting of ξ Geminorum, μ Geminorum
Mu Geminorum
Mu Geminorum is a star in the constellation Gemini, approximately 230 light years away from Earth. It has the traditional name Tejat Posterior, which means back foot, because it is the foot of Castor, one of the Gemini twins...
, ν Geminorum, γ Geminorum
Gamma Geminorum
Gamma Geminorum is the second brightest star in the constellation Gemini. It has the traditional names Alhena and Almeisan....
, ε Geminorum
Epsilon Geminorum
Epsilon Geminorum is a star in the constellation of Gemini. It has the traditional name Mebsuta ....
, 36 Geminorum, ζ Geminorum
Zeta Geminorum
Zeta Geminorum is a star in the constellation Gemini. It has the traditional name Mekbuda.The name Mekbuda has roots in ancient Arabic where it and the star Mebsuta were the paws of a lion...
and λ Geminorum
Lambda Geminorum
Lambda Geminorum is a Class A3, fourth-magnitude star in the constellation Gemini. Lambda Geminorum is a variable star located about 95 light-years from Earth....
. Consequently, ξ Geminorum itself is known as
Structure
Xi Geminorum belongs to spectral classStellar 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...
F6 and has 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...
+3.4. It is 64 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...
.
Coordinates (J2000):
- Right ascensionRight ascensionRight ascension is the astronomical term for one of the two coordinates of a point on the celestial sphere when using the equatorial coordinate system. The other coordinate is the declination.-Explanation:...
: 6h42m30s - DeclinationDeclinationIn astronomy, declination is one of the two coordinates of the equatorial coordinate system, the other being either right ascension or hour angle. Declination in astronomy is comparable to geographic latitude, but projected onto the celestial sphere. Declination is measured in degrees north and...
: +12°57'0"