Beta Pictoris
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 HST view of dust disk |
|
| Observation data Epoch J2000 |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation (pronunciation) |
Pictor |
| Right ascension | 05h 47m 17.1s |
| Declination | -51° 03′ 59″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 3.86 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | A5 V |
| U-B color index | 0.09 |
| B-V color index | 0.17 |
| Variable type | None |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +20 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: 4.65 mas/yr Dec.: 81.96 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 51.87 ± 0.51 mas |
| Distance | 62.9 ly (19.3 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | 2.44 |
| Details | |
| Mass | 1.7 M☉ |
| Radius | 1.4 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 8.6 L☉ |
| Temperature | 8,250 K |
| Metallicity | 100% |
| Rotation | 13 hours (130 km/s) |
| Age | 8-20 × 106 years |
| Other designations | |
Beta Pictoris (β Pic / β Pictoris) is the second brightest star in the constellation Pictor. The β Pic system is very young, only 8-20 million years old[1] although it is already on the main sequence.[2]
The star β Pictoris shows an excess of infrared emission compared to normal stars of its type. This excess comes from dust near the star. Detailed observations reveal a large disk of dust and gas orbiting the star, called a debris disk.
New studies using a NASA ultraviolet space telescope called FUSE have discovered that this disk contains a surprising overabundance of carbon gas. Currently, the two suggested explanations for this are 1) β Pic might be in the process of forming exotic carbon-rich worlds, in contrast to the oxygen-rich Earth, or 2) it is passing through an unknown phase that might also have occurred early in the development of our solar system.[3]
The star-system's disk extends more than 500 AUs away from β Pictoris, and shows a warp-like shape in the inner region. This suggests the presence of a massive object, perhaps a brown dwarf or a gas giant planet, orbiting the star and causing the disk's odd shape; however, the existence of this object has not yet been confirmed.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Zuckerman, B.; Song, Inseok; Bessell, M. S.; Webb, R. A. (November 2001). "The β Pictoris Moving Group". The Astrophysical Journal 562 (1): L87-L90. doi:10.1086/337968.
- ^ D.E. Backman. "Dust in beta PIC / VEGA Main Sequence Systems". Bulliten of the American Astronomical Society 28: 1056.
- ^ "NASA's Fuse Finds Infant Solar System Awash in Carbon", NASA, 06.07.06. Retrieved on 2006-07-03.
- ^ beta Pictoris b. Extrasolar Visions. Retrieved on 2006-07-03.
