Zeta¹ Scorpii
Encyclopedia
Zeta1 Scorpii (Zeta1 Sco, ζ1 Scorpii, ζ1 Sco) is a B-type hypergiant
star
in the constellation
of Scorpius. It has an apparent visual magnitude which varies between 4.66 and 4.86. It is one of the most massive stars in the Galaxy, with an estimated mass of approximately 60 solar mass
es, and is a member of the Scorpius OB1 association, and the open star cluster NGC 6231
, also known as the "northern jewel box" cluster. It is also one of the most luminous stars known in the Galaxy, with an estimated bolometric luminosity of approximately 1.7 million times the Sun
's.
Zeta-1 Scorpii forms a naked eye double with Zeta-2 Scorpii, but the stars are merely coincidentally near in the line of sight from Earth. Zeta-2 is a mere 155 light years distant and much less luminous in real terms. Zeta-1 Scorpii can also be distinguished from Zeta-2, due to the latter's orangeish color especially in long-exposure photographs.
Hypergiant
A hypergiant is a star with a tremendous mass and luminosity, showing signs of a very high rate of mass loss.-Characteristics:...
star
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....
of Scorpius. It has an apparent visual magnitude which varies between 4.66 and 4.86. It is one of the most massive stars in the Galaxy, with an estimated mass of approximately 60 solar mass
Solar mass
The solar mass , , is a standard unit of mass in astronomy, used to indicate the masses of other stars and galaxies...
es, and is a member of the Scorpius OB1 association, and the open star cluster NGC 6231
NGC 6231
NGC 6231 is an open cluster located near Zeta Scorpii. Zeta1 is a member of this star cluster....
, also known as the "northern jewel box" cluster. It is also one of the most luminous stars known in the Galaxy, with an estimated bolometric luminosity of approximately 1.7 million times the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
's.
Zeta-1 Scorpii forms a naked eye double with Zeta-2 Scorpii, but the stars are merely coincidentally near in the line of sight from Earth. Zeta-2 is a mere 155 light years distant and much less luminous in real terms. Zeta-1 Scorpii can also be distinguished from Zeta-2, due to the latter's orangeish color especially in long-exposure photographs.