Beta Doradus
Encyclopedia
Beta Doradus (Beta Dor, β Doradus, β Dor) is the second brightest star in the constellation
of Dorado. It is a Cepheid variable
, with an apparent visual magnitude which varies between 3.46 and 4.08. Its spectral type and luminosity class are likewise variable, from F-type to G-type and from a supergiant
to a bright giant
.
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
of Dorado. It is a Cepheid variable
Cepheid variable
A Cepheid is a member of a class of very luminous variable stars. The strong direct relationship between a Cepheid variable's luminosity and pulsation period, secures for Cepheids their status as important standard candles for establishing the Galactic and extragalactic distance scales.Cepheid...
, with an apparent visual magnitude which varies between 3.46 and 4.08. Its spectral type and luminosity class are likewise variable, from F-type to G-type and from a supergiant
Supergiant
Supergiants are among the most massive stars. They occupy the top region of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. In the Yerkes spectral classification, supergiants are class Ia or Ib . They typically have bolometric absolute magnitudes between -5 and -12...
to a bright giant
Bright giant
The luminosity class II in the Yerkes spectral classification is given to bright giants. These are stars which straddle the boundary between giants and supergiants, and the classification is in general given to giant stars with exceptionally high luminosity, but which are not sufficiently bright...
.