Hubbry Logo
search
logo
1948258

Gamma Serpentis

logo
Community Hub0 Subscribers
Write something...
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
See all
Gamma Serpentis

Gamma Serpentis (γ Serpentis, γ Ser) is a star in the equatorial constellation Serpens, in the part of the constellation that represents the serpent's head (Serpens Caput). It has an apparent visual magnitude +3.85, which means it is visible to the naked eye. Based upon parallax measurements by the Gaia spacecraft, this star is approximately 36.4 light years from Earth.

Gamma Serpentis is an ordinary F-type main sequence star with a stellar classification of F6 V, currently fusing atoms of hydrogen into helium at its core. It is 46% larger and 21% more massive than the Sun, with three times the solar luminosity. Based upon its mass, it may have a convection zone in its core region. The projected rotational velocity is 10.2 km/s, providing a lower limit to the azimuthal rotational velocity along the equator. It is younger than the Sun with an estimated age of 3.5 billion years. The effective temperature of the star's outer atmosphere is 6,300 K, giving it the yellow-white-hued glow of an F-type star.

Occasionally Gamma Serpentis is listed as having two 10th magnitude companions, but it appears that these stars are just optical neighbours.

It was a member of indigenous Arabic asterism al-Nasaq al-Sha'āmī, "the Northern Line" of al-Nasaqān "the Two Lines", along with β Her (Kornephoros), γ Her (Hejian) and β Ser (Zhou).

According to the catalogue of stars in the Technical Memorandum 33-507 - A Reduced Star Catalog Containing 537 Named Stars, al-Nasaq al-Sha'āmī or Nasak Shamiya were the title for three stars: β Ser as Nasak Shamiya I, γ Ser as Nasak Shamiya II, γ Her as Nasak Shamiya III (exclude β Her). The star was later given the proper name Ainalhai, from the Arabic عين الحية ‘Ayn al-Ḥayyah "the Serpent's Eye".[citation needed]

In Chinese, 天市右垣 (Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán), meaning Right Wall of Heavenly Market Enclosure, refers to an asterism which represents eleven old states in China and which marks the right borderline of the enclosure, consisting of γ Serpentis, β Herculis, γ Herculis, κ Herculis, β Serpentis, δ Serpentis, α Serpentis, ε Serpentis, δ Ophiuchi, ε Ophiuchi and ζ Ophiuchi. Consequently, the Chinese name for γ Serpentis itself is 天市右垣四 (Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán sì, English: the Fourth Star of Right Wall of Heavenly Market Enclosure), representing the state Zheng (鄭) (or Ching), together with 20 Capricorni (according to Ian Ridpath version) in Twelve States (asterism).

In the indigenous Australian Wardaman culture, this star, along with β Serpentis, is known as Muning, the small rock cod.

See all
User Avatar
No comments yet.