Epsilon Virginis (ε Virginis, abbreviated Epsilon Vir, ε Vir), formally named Vindemiatrix ,
is a
star in the
zodiac
The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8° north or south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The pat ...
constellation of
Virgo
Virgo may refer to:
*Virgo (astrology), the sixth astrological sign of the zodiac
* Virgo (constellation), a constellation
*Virgo Cluster, a cluster of galaxies in the constellation Virgo
*Virgo Stellar Stream, remains of a dwarf galaxy
* Virgo Su ...
. The
apparent visual magnitude
Apparent magnitude () is a measure of the brightness of a star or other astronomical object observed from Earth. An object's apparent magnitude depends on its intrinsic luminosity, its distance from Earth, and any extinction of the object's lig ...
of this star is +2.8,
[ making it the third-brightest member of Virgo. Based upon parallax measurements made during the Hipparcos mission, Vindemiatrix lies at a distance of about from the ]Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is a nearly perfect ball of hot plasma, heated to incandescence by nuclear fusion reactions in its core. The Sun radiates this energy mainly as light, ultraviolet, and infrared radi ...
, give or take a half light-year.[
]
Stellar properties
Vindemiatrix is a giant star
A giant star is a star with substantially larger radius and luminosity than a main-sequence (or ''dwarf'') star of the same surface temperature.Giant star, entry in ''Astronomy Encyclopedia'', ed. Patrick Moore, New York: Oxford University Press ...
with a stellar classification of G8 III.[ With 2.6][ times the mass of the Sun, it has reached a stage in its ]evolution
Evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. These characteristics are the expressions of genes, which are passed on from parent to offspring during reproduction. Variation ...
where the hydrogen fuel in its core is exhausted. As a result, it has expanded to over ten[ times the Sun's girth and is now radiating around 77][ times as much luminosity as the Sun. This energy is being emitted from its outer atmosphere at an effective temperature of 5,086 K,][ which gives it the yellow-hued glow of a ]G-type star
A G-type main-sequence star (Spectral type: G-V), also often, and imprecisely called a yellow dwarf, or G star, is a main-sequence star (luminosity class V) of spectral type G. Such a star has about 0.9 to 1.1 solar masses and an effective temp ...
. Since 1943, the spectrum
A spectrum (plural ''spectra'' or ''spectrums'') is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary, without gaps, across a continuum. The word was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of colors ...
of this star has served as one of the stable anchor points by which other stars are classified.[
This star is a likely member of the thin disk population and the orbit departs by no more than from the ]galactic plane
The galactic plane is the plane on which the majority of a disk-shaped galaxy's mass lies. The directions perpendicular to the galactic plane point to the galactic poles. In actual usage, the terms ''galactic plane'' and ''galactic poles'' usual ...
.[
]
Nomenclature
''ε Virginis'' ( Latinised to ''Epsilon Virginis'') is the star's Bayer designation.
It bore the traditional names ''Vindemiatrix'' and ''Vindemiator'', which come from Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
through the Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
''vindēmiātrix, vindēmiātor'' meaning 'the grape-harvestress'. Additional medieval names are ''Almuredin'' ,[ In 2016, the ]International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union (IAU; french: link=yes, Union astronomique internationale, UAI) is a nongovernmental organisation with the objective of advancing astronomy in all aspects, including promoting astronomical research, outreac ...
organized a Working Group on Star Names
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) established a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) in May 2016 to catalog and standardize proper names for stars for the international astronomical community. It operates under Division C – Education ...
(WGSN)Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
for 'the Barker'.[
In Chinese, (), meaning '' Left Wall of Supreme Palace Enclosure'', refers to an asterism consisting of Epsilon Virginis, Eta Virginis, Gamma Virginis, Delta Virginis and Alpha Comae Berenices. Consequently, the ]Chinese name
Chinese names or Chinese personal names are names used by individuals from Greater China and other parts of the Chinese-speaking world throughout East and Southeast Asia (ESEA). In addition, many names used in Japan, Korea and Vietnam are ofte ...
for Epsilon Virginis itself is (, en, the Fourth Star of Left Wall of Supreme Palace Enclosure.), representing (), meaning ''The Second Eastern General''.English-Chinese Glossary of Chinese Star Regions, Asterisms and Star Name
, Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010. 東次將 (Dōngcìjiāng), westernized into ''Tsze Tseang'' by R.H. Allen and the meaning is "the Second General".
/ref>
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Epsilon Virginis
Virginis, Epsilon
Virgo (constellation)
G-type giants
Vindemiatrix
Virginis, 047
063608
4932
113226
Durchmusterung objects
TIC objects