Alhena is an evolving star that is exhausting the supply of hydrogen at its core and has entered the subgiant stage. The spectrum matches a stellar classification of A0 IV.[14] Compared to the Sun it has 2.8[7] times the mass and 4.9[8] times the radius. It is radiating around 123[9] times the luminosity of the Sun from its outer envelope at an effective temperature of 9,260 K.[10] This gives it a white hue typical of an A-class star.[15]
γ Geminorum (Latinised to Gamma Geminorum) is the star's Bayer designation. The traditional name Alhena is derived from the Arabic الهنعة Al Han'ah, 'the brand' (on the neck of the camel), whilst the alternate name Almeisan is from the Arabic المیسان Al Maisan, 'the shining one.' Al Hanʽah was the name of star association consisting of this star, along with Mu Geminorum (Tejat Posterior), Nu Geminorum, Eta Geminorum (Tejat Prior) and Xi Geminorum (Alzirr). They also were associated in Al Nuḥātai, the dual form of Al Nuḥāt, 'a Camel's Hump'.[16] In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)[17] to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN's first bulletin of July 2016[18] included a table of the first two batches of names approved by the WGSN; which included Alhena for this star.
In the catalogue of stars in the Calendarium of Al Achsasi Al Mouakket, this star was designated Nir al Henat, which was translated into Latin as Prima του al Henat, meaning 'the brightest of Al Henat'.[19]
Gamma Geminorum is 6° south of the ecliptic, far enough so that the Moon never occults it. Similarly, planets in conjunction with this star almost always pass several degrees to the north, but Venus will have a series of close conjunctions with Gamma Geminorum starting in August 2143, and continuing every eight years after over the remainder of that century.[22]
The Sun passes Gamma Geminorum on or around June 30 every year.[22]
^ abcdGutierrez-Moreno, Adelina; et al. (1966), "A System of photometric standards", Publ. Dept. Astron. Univ. Chile, 1, Publicaciones Universidad de Chile, Department de Astronomy: 1–17, Bibcode:1966PDAUC...1....1G
^ abcFekel, Francis C.; Tomkin, Jocelyn (1993), "The Spectroscopic Orbit of Gamma Geminorum and a Search for its Secondary", Astronomical Journal, 106: 1156, Bibcode:1993AJ....106.1156F, doi:10.1086/116714
^Evans, D. S. (June 20–24, 1966), "The Revision of the General Catalogue of Radial Velocities", in Batten, Alan Henry; Heard, John Frederick (eds.), Determination of Radial Velocities and their Applications, Proceedings from IAU Symposium no. 30, vol. 30, University of Toronto: International Astronomical Union, p. 57, Bibcode:1967IAUS...30...57E
^ abMalagnini, M. L.; Morossi, C. (November 1990), "Accurate absolute luminosities, effective temperatures, radii, masses and surface gravities for a selected sample of field stars", Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series, 85 (3): 1015–1019, Bibcode:1990A&AS...85.1015M
^ abAdelman, Saul J.; Philip, A. G. Davis (December 1994), "Elemental abundances of the B and A stars. 2: Gamma Geminorum, HD 60825, 7 Sextantis, HR 4817, and HR 5780", Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 106 (706): 1239–1247, Bibcode:1994PASP..106.1239A, doi:10.1086/133501, S2CID122551112
^Cowley, A.; et al. (April 1969), "A study of the bright A stars. I. A catalogue of spectral classifications", Astronomical Journal, 74: 375–406, Bibcode:1969AJ.....74..375C, doi:10.1086/110819
