Delta Equulei
Encyclopedia
Delta Equulei is the second brightest star
in the constellation
Equuleus
. Delta Equulei is a binary star
system about 60 light years away, with components of class G0 and F5. Their combined magnitude
is 4.47, and their absolute magnitude
is 3.142. There is controversy as to the exact masses of the stars. One study puts the larger at 1.22 solar mass
es and the smaller at 1.17, while another pegs them at 1.66 and 1.593. The luminosity of the larger star is calculated to be 2.23 solar, and the smaller to be 2.17.
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
in the constellation
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....
Equuleus
Equuleus
Equuleus is a constellation. Its name is Latin for 'little horse', a foal. It was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and remains one of the 88 modern constellations. It is the second smallest of the modern constellations , spanning only 72 square degrees...
. Delta Equulei is a binary star
Binary star
A binary star is a star system consisting of two stars orbiting around their common center of mass. The brighter star is called the primary and the other is its companion star, comes, or secondary...
system about 60 light years away, with components of class G0 and F5. Their combined magnitude
Apparent magnitude
The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...
is 4.47, and their absolute magnitude
Absolute magnitude
Absolute magnitude is the measure of a celestial object's intrinsic brightness. it is also the apparent magnitude a star would have if it were 32.6 light years away from Earth...
is 3.142. There is controversy as to the exact masses of the stars. One study puts the larger at 1.22 solar mass
Solar mass
The solar mass , , is a standard unit of mass in astronomy, used to indicate the masses of other stars and galaxies...
es and the smaller at 1.17, while another pegs them at 1.66 and 1.593. The luminosity of the larger star is calculated to be 2.23 solar, and the smaller to be 2.17.