Epsilon Crucis

ε Crucis
Location of ε Crucis (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Crux
Right ascension 12h 21m 21.608s[1]
Declination −60° 24′ 04.13″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 3.58[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type K3 III[3]
Apparent magnitude (B) 4.98±0.01[4]
Apparent magnitude (G) 3.1[4]
Apparent magnitude (J) 1.226±0.274[4]
U−B color index +1.63[2]
B−V color index +1.42[2]
Variable type suspected[5]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−4.60[6] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −171.223 mas/yr[1]
Dec.: 91.795 mas/yr[1]
Parallax (π)14.2 ± 0.1 mas[1]
Distance230 ± 2 ly
(70.4 ± 0.5 pc)[1]
Absolute magnitude (MV)−0.63±0.09[7]
Details
Mass(1.4 – 1.5)±0.2[8] M☉
Radius31±2[8] R☉
Luminosity282[8] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)1.91[6] cgs
Temperature4,210±125[8] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.03[8] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)3.14[6] km/s
Age2.17[6] Gyr
Other designations
Ginan, ε Cru, NSV 5568, CD−59° 4221, FK5 2989, HD 107446, HIP 60260, HR 4700, SAO 251862[4]
Database references
SIMBADdata

Epsilon Crucis, Latinised from ε Crucis (abbreviated Epsilon Cru, ε Cru) and also known as Ginan /ˈɡiːnən/,[9] is a single,[10] orange-hued star in the southern constellation of Crux. Measurements made by the Gaia spacecraft showed an annual parallax shift of 14.2 mas,[1] which provides a distance estimate of about 230 light years. The star can be seen with the naked eye, having an apparent visual magnitude of 3.58.[2] It is moving closer to the Sun with a radial velocity of −4.60 km/s.[6]

This is a giant star of type K with a stellar classification of K3III,[3] indicating that it has exhausted the hydrogen at its core and evolved away from the main sequence. It is about two billion years old[6] with 1.4–1.5 times the mass of the Sun and has expanded to 31 times the Sun's radius. The star is shining with around 282 times the Sun's luminosity from its enlarged photosphere at an effective temperature of 4,210 K.[8]

Nomenclature

ε Crucis (Latinised to Epsilon Crucis) is the star's Bayer designation.

The system bore the traditional name Ginan in the culture of the Wardaman people of the Northern Territory of Australia,[11] refers to a dilly bag - the "Bag of Songs."[12] In 2016, the IAU organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)[13] to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN approved the name Ginan for Epsilon Crucis on 19 November 2017 and it is now so included in the List of IAU-approved Star Names.[9]

It was also sometimes called Intrometida (intrusive) in Portuguese.[14]

In culture

Ginan is represented on the national flags of Australia, Papua New Guinea and Samoa. It is also featured in the flag of Brazil, along with 26 other stars, each of which represents a state. It represents the State of Espírito Santo.[15]

Left: The bright blue star on the right centre of this image is Epsilon Crucis. The colours used in this image represent specific wavelengths of infrared light. Blue represents light emitted at 3.4 and 4.6 micrometres. Right: Crux (Southern Cross) from Hobart, Tasmania.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Vallenari, A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (2023). "Gaia Data Release 3. Summary of the content and survey properties". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 674: A1. arXiv:2208.00211. Bibcode:2023A&A...674A...1G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202243940. S2CID 244398875. Gaia DR3 record for this source at VizieR.
  2. ^ a b c d Mermilliod, J.-C (1986). "Compilation of Eggen's UBV data, transformed to UBV (unpublished)". Catalogue of Eggen's UBV Data. Bibcode:1986EgUBV........0M.
  3. ^ a b Keenan, Philip C; McNeil, Raymond C (1989). "The Perkins catalog of revised MK types for the cooler stars". Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 71: 245. Bibcode:1989ApJS...71..245K. doi:10.1086/191373.
  4. ^ a b c d "eps Cru". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg.
  5. ^ Samus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007-2013)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S. 1. Bibcode:2009yCat....102025S.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Jofré, E; Petrucci, R; Saffe, C; Saker, L; de la Villarmois, E. Artur; Chavero, C; Gómez, M; Mauas, P. J. D (2015). "Stellar parameters and chemical abundances of 223 evolved stars with and without planets". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 574: A50. arXiv:1410.6422. Bibcode:2015A&A...574A..50J. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201424474. S2CID 53666931.
  7. ^ da Silva, L.; et al. (November 2006), "Basic physical parameters of a selected sample of evolved stars", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 458 (2): 609–623, arXiv:astro-ph/0608160, Bibcode:2006A&A...458..609D, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20065105, S2CID 9341088
  8. ^ a b c d e f Kallinger, T.; Beck, P. G.; Hekker, S.; Huber, D.; Kuschnig, R.; Rockenbauer, M.; Winter, P. M.; Weiss, W. W.; Handler, G.; Moffat, A. F. J.; Pigulski, A.; Popowicz, A.; Wade, G. A.; Zwintz, K. (2019-04-01). "Stellar masses from granulation and oscillations of 23 bright red giants observed by BRITE-Constellation". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 624: A35. arXiv:1902.07531. Bibcode:2019A&A...624A..35K. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201834514. ISSN 0004-6361.
  9. ^ a b "Naming Stars". IAU.org. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  10. ^ Eggleton, P. P.; Tokovinin, A. A. (September 2008), "A catalogue of multiplicity among bright stellar systems", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 389 (2): 869–879, arXiv:0806.2878, Bibcode:2008MNRAS.389..869E, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.13596.x, S2CID 14878976.
  11. ^ "IAU Approves 86 New Star Names From Around the World" (Press release). IAU.org. 11 December 2017.
  12. ^ "IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)" (Press release). IAU.org.
  13. ^ "IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)". Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  14. ^ da Silva Oliveira, R., "Crux Australis: o Cruzeiro do Sul" Archived 2013-12-06 at the Wayback Machine, Artigos: Planetario Movel Inflavel AsterDomus.
  15. ^ "Astronomy of the Brazilian Flag". FOTW Flags Of The World website.