Zeta Geminorum
Encyclopedia
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 (Epsilon Geminorum
) were the paws of a lion. Mekbuda comes from a phrase meaning the lion's folded paw.
In Chinese
, , meaning Well
(asterism), refers to an asterism consisting of ζ Geminorum, μ Geminorum
, γ Geminorum
, ν Geminorum, ξ Geminorum
, ε Geminorum
, 36 Geminorum and λ Geminorum
. Consequently, ζ Geminorum itself is known as
. It is a Cepheid variable
star and as such has a variable apparent magnitude
of +3.7 to +4.2, with period of approximately 10.2 days. The star is approximately 1200 light years from Earth. Mekbuda is a supergiant
.
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 Mekbuda.
The name Mekbuda has roots in ancient Arabic where it and the star Mebsuta (Epsilon Geminorum
Epsilon Geminorum
Epsilon Geminorum is a star in the constellation of Gemini. It has the traditional name Mebsuta ....
) were the paws of a lion. Mekbuda comes from a phrase meaning the lion's folded paw.
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 ζ 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...
, γ Geminorum
Gamma Geminorum
Gamma Geminorum is the second brightest star in the constellation Gemini. It has the traditional names Alhena and Almeisan....
, ν Geminorum, ξ Geminorum
Xi Geminorum
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 , μ Gem , ν Gem and η Gem were Al Han'ah, "the brand"...
, ε Geminorum
Epsilon Geminorum
Epsilon Geminorum is a star in the constellation of Gemini. It has the traditional name Mebsuta ....
, 36 Geminorum 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, ζ Geminorum itself is known as
Structure
It is located on the outstretched left "leg" of the twin PolluxPollux (star)
Pollux is an orange giant star approximately 34 light-years from the Earth in the constellation of Gemini . Pollux is the brightest star in the constellation, brighter than Castor...
. It is a Cepheid variable
Cepheid variable
A Cepheid is a member of a class of very luminous variable stars. The strong direct relationship between a Cepheid variable's luminosity and pulsation period, secures for Cepheids their status as important standard candles for establishing the Galactic and extragalactic distance scales.Cepheid...
star and as such has a variable 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 +3.7 to +4.2, with period of approximately 10.2 days. The star is approximately 1200 light years from Earth. Mekbuda is a supergiant
Supergiant
Supergiants are among the most massive stars. They occupy the top region of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. In the Yerkes spectral classification, supergiants are class Ia or Ib . They typically have bolometric absolute magnitudes between -5 and -12...
.