Theta Aquilae (θ Aql, θ Aquilae) is a binary star in the constellationAquila. The combined apparent visual magnitude of the pair is 3.26,[2] making it the fourth-brightest member of the constellation. In Chinese, it has the traditional name Tseen Foo/ˌsiːnˈfuː/, from the Chinese 天桴 (Mandarin pronunciation tiānfú), which could mean "heavenly raft" or "heavenly ridgepole"; it might also mean "heavenly drumsticks", with Altair, Beta Aquilae and Gamma Aquilae being the drum. This distance to this star can be determined through the parallax technique, yielding an estimate of roughly 286 light-years (88 parsecs) from Earth.[1]
Properties
Theta Aquilae is a double-lined spectroscopic binary,[8] which indicates that the individual components have not been viewed through a telescope; instead, what can be viewed is their combined spectrum with the individual absorption line features shifting back and forth over the course of an orbit because of the Doppler effect. Their orbit has a period of 17.1 days with a large orbital eccentricity is 0.60. At the estimated distance of this system, the angular separation of 3.2[5]milliarcseconds corresponds to a physical separation of only about 0.24–0.28 astronomical units.[9]
Both stars have a matching stellar classification of B9.5 III,[3] indicating that they are massive, B-type giant stars that have exhausted the supply of hydrogen at their cores and evolved away from the main sequence of stars like the Sun. Hummel et al. (1996) gave the primary component, θ Aql A, an estimated mass of 3.6 solar, a radius 4.8 the Sun's, and 278 the luminosity of the Sun. For the secondary component, θ Aql B, they give the corresponding parameters as 2.9 times the mass, 2.4 times the radius and 68 times the luminosity of the Sun.[5] Based upon their estimated parameters, Kaler (2008) suggests that θ Aql A is actually a subgiant star, while θ Aql B is a main sequence star.[9]
In the catalogue of stars in the Calendarium of Al Achsasi al Mouakket, this star was designated Thanih Ras al Akab (تاني ألرأس ألعقاب - taanii al ra’s alʕuqāb), which was translated into Latin as Secunda Capitis Vulturis, meaning the second (star) of eagle's head.[12]
This star, along with δ Aql and η Aql, were Al Mizān (ألميزان), the Scale-beam.[13] According to the catalogue of stars in the Technical Memorandum 33-507 - A Reduced Star Catalog Containing 537 Named Stars, Al Mizān were the title for three stars :δ Aql as Al Mizān I, η Aql as Al Mizān II and θ Aql as Al Mizān III.[14]
This star, together with η Aql, δ Aql, ι Aql, κ Aql and λ Aql, constituted the obsolete constellation Antinous.[15]
^ abcdCowley, 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.
^Wilson, R. E. (1953), "General Catalogue of Stellar Radial Velocities", Washington, Carnegie Institute of Washington D.C., Bibcode:1953GCRV..C......0W.
^ abcdHummel, C. A.; et al. (July 1995), "Orbits of Small Angular Scale Binaries Resolved with the Mark III Interferometer", Astronomical Journal, 110: 376, Bibcode:1995AJ....110..376H, doi:10.1086/117528.
^Adelman, S. J.; Nasson, M. A. (June 1980), "Abundance analyses of Theta Aquilae /B9.5 III/, Nu Capricorni /B9.5 V/, and Sigma Aquarii /AO IVs/", Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 92: 346–356, Bibcode:1980PASP...92..346A, doi:10.1086/130675.
^van Rensbergen, W.; De Loore, C.; Jansen, K. (February 2006), "Evolution of interacting binaries with a B type primary at birth", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 446 (3): 1071–1079, Bibcode:2006A&A...446.1071V, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20053543.
^ abKaler, James B. (September 19, 2008), "THETA AQL (Theta Aquilae)", Stars, University of Illinois, retrieved 2012-02-19.
^(in Chinese)中國星座神話, written by 陳久金. Published by 台灣書房出版有限公司, 2005, ISBN978-986-7332-25-7.
