K Puppis
Encyclopedia
k Puppis is a Bayer designation
given to an optical double star in the constellation
Puppis
, the two components being k1 Puppis and k2 Puppis. Note that the designation here is "k" not "kappa
" (κ) as some astronomers teach. Many of Puppis' stellar designations are English
labels. This pair of stars is given the traditional Arabic
name Markeb
or Markab
.
Both k1 Puppis and k2 Puppis are bright blue B-type
giant
stars of nearly equal brightness, +4.50 and +4.62, respectively. To the naked eye, the pair has a combined magnitude of +3.80. On the sky, the two stars are separated by approximately 9.9 seconds of arc along PA 318º. The optical pair can be distinguished easily with a small telescope
. The component k1 Puppis is a binary star
system in its own right, while k2 Puppis is a variable star
. Each star within the k Puppis optical pair is between 450 and 470 light years
from Earth
.
Bayer designation
A Bayer designation is a stellar designation in which a specific star is identified by a Greek letter, followed by the genitive form of its parent constellation's Latin name...
given to an optical double star 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....
Puppis
Puppis
Puppis is a constellation in the southern sky. Its name is the Latin word for the poop deck of a ship, and Puppis represents the deck of the ship and its deckhouses...
, the two components being k1 Puppis and k2 Puppis. Note that the designation here is "k" not "kappa
Kappa
Kappa is the 10th letter of the Greek alphabet, used to represent the voiceless velar stop, or "k", sound in Ancient and Modern Greek. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 20. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Kaph...
" (κ) as some astronomers teach. Many of Puppis' stellar designations are English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
labels. This pair of stars is given the traditional Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
name Markeb
Markeb
Markeb is a variant form of Markab the proper name for some stars.* k Puppis, in the constellation Puppis, was former Kappa Argus lettered by Bayer....
or Markab
Markab
Markab can refer to*the following stars Markab can refer to*the following stars Markab can refer to*the following stars (the name derives from Arabic مركب, markab meaning "something to ride" [or "vehicle", "saddle", "boat", etc...
.
Both k1 Puppis and k2 Puppis are bright blue B-type
Stellar classification
In astronomy, stellar classification is a classification of stars based on their spectral characteristics. The spectral class of a star is a designated class of a star describing the ionization of its chromosphere, what atomic excitations are most prominent in the light, giving an objective measure...
giant
Giant star
A giant star is a star with substantially larger radius and luminosity than a main sequence star of the same surface temperature. Typically, giant stars have radii between 10 and 100 solar radii and luminosities between 10 and 1,000 times that of the Sun. Stars still more luminous than giants are...
stars of nearly equal brightness, +4.50 and +4.62, respectively. To the naked eye, the pair has a combined magnitude of +3.80. On the sky, the two stars are separated by approximately 9.9 seconds of arc along PA 318º. The optical pair can be distinguished easily with a small telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
. The component k1 Puppis 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 in its own right, while k2 Puppis is a variable star
Variable star
A star is classified as variable if its apparent magnitude as seen from Earth changes over time, whether the changes are due to variations in the star's actual luminosity, or to variations in the amount of the star's light that is blocked from reaching Earth...
. Each star within the k Puppis optical pair is between 450 and 470 light years
Light Years
Light Years is the seventh studio album by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue. It was released on 25 September 2000 by Parlophone and Mushroom Records. The album's style was indicative of her return to "mainstream pop dance tunes"....
from Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
.