HR 6806 is a solitary, orange,
main sequence
In astronomy, the main sequence is a continuous and distinctive band of stars that appears on plots of stellar color versus brightness. These color-magnitude plots are known as Hertzsprung–Russell diagrams after their co-developers, Ejnar Her ...
, and
Sun-like
Solar-type star, solar analogs (also analogues), and solar twins are stars that are particularly similar to the Sun. The stellar classification is a hierarchy with solar twin being most like the Sun followed by solar analog and then solar-typ ...
(K2 V) star located thirty-six light-years away,
in the constellation
Hercules
Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures.
The Romans adapted the Gr ...
. The star is smaller than the Sun, with around 79% of the solar mass and radius, and 35% of the solar luminosity.
[ It appears to be rotating slowly with an estimated period of 42 days. In 1988, it was noticed that the star had an inactive ]chromosphere
A chromosphere ("sphere of color") is the second layer of a star's atmosphere, located above the photosphere and below the solar transition region and corona. The term usually refers to the Sun's chromosphere, but not exclusively.
In the Su ...
, with a surface magnetic field
A magnetic field is a vector field that describes the magnetic influence on moving electric charges, electric currents, and magnetic materials. A moving charge in a magnetic field experiences a force perpendicular to its own velocity and to ...
strength of only 1,500 G.[ From 1990 activity in the chromosphere increased, inline with a 16 year stellar cycle previously observed. But, sometime after 1994 (exact date unknown because of a data collection gap between 1995 and 2004) chromospheric activity greatly reduced, and has stayed flat for more than 16 years. the star appears to have entered the equivalent of a Maunder minimum.] The star is around six billion years of age.
There was suspected to be a nearby very cool, and very dim, T9 to Y brown dwarf
Brown dwarfs (also called failed stars) are substellar objects that are not massive enough to sustain nuclear fusion of ordinary hydrogen ( 1H) into helium in their cores, unlike a main-sequence star. Instead, they have a mass between the most ...
companion, WISE J180901.07+383805.4, at an angular separation of 769″, which would have corresponded to a projected separation
This glossary of astronomy is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to astronomy and cosmology, their sub-disciplines, and related fields. Astronomy is concerned with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outsid ...
of 8460 AU at the distance of HR 6806. However, with further observation it was found to be bluer than at first thought and more typical of a slightly brighter T7 dwarf, which would place it at a much greater distance of —ruling out a physical association. This is confirmed by the differing proper motion of the star and this object.[
]
References
External links
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NStars: 1809+3827
{{DEFAULTSORT:HR 6806
K-type main-sequence stars
HR, 6806
Maunder Minimum
Hercules (constellation)
Durchmusterung objects
0706
166620
088972
6806