Lambda Scorpii
Encyclopedia
Lambda Scorpii is the second brightest star system
in the constellation
Scorpius
, and one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky. It has the Bayer designation
λ despite being the second brightest in its constellation. It has the traditional name Shaula, which comes from the Arabic
الشولاء al-šawlā´ meaning the raised [tail], as it is found in the tail of the scorpion (Scorpius). It is known as 尾宿八 (the Eighth Star of the Tail) in Chinese.
Lambda Scorpii is a multiple star
with three visible components. The first,
Lambda Scorpii A, is classified as a B-type
subgiant. The 15th
magnitude
Lambda Scorpii B has a separation of 42 arcseconds from component A,
while the 12th magnitude Lambda Scorpii C is 95 arcseconds from A. It is not known whether or not
these components are physically associated with component A. If they both were,
B would be approximately 7500 Astronomical Units and C approximately 17,000 AU (0.27 light years
) from A.
Spectroscopic and interferometric
observations
have shown that A is actually a triple system
consisting of two B-type
stars and a pre–main sequence star. The primary star is also a beta Cephei variable
star. The pre–main sequence star has an orbital period of 6 days and the B companion has a period of 1053 days. The three stars lie in the same orbital plane, strongly suggesting that they were formed at the same time. The masses of the primary, pre–main sequence star and the B companion are
10.4±1.3, 1.8±0.2 and 8.1±1.0 solar mass
es, respectively. The age of the system is estimated to be in the range 10–13 million years.
The interferometric and spectroscopic observations allow the distance to the system to be determined independently of other methods. Its distance is 112±5 parsec
s.
(Lesath), Shaula is listed in MUL.APIN
as dSharur4 u dShargaz, meaning "Sharur and Shargaz".
, symbolising the state of Rio Grande do Norte
.
was a United States Navy
Crater class cargo ship
named after the star.
Star system
A star system or stellar system is a small number of stars which orbit each other, bound by gravitational attraction. A large number of stars bound by gravitation is generally called a star cluster or galaxy, although, broadly speaking, they are also star systems.-Binary star systems:A stellar...
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....
Scorpius
Scorpius
Scorpius, sometimes known as Scorpio, is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for scorpion, and its symbol is . It lies between Libra to the west and Sagittarius to the east...
, and one of the brightest stars in the nighttime sky. It has the Bayer designation
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...
λ despite being the second brightest in its constellation. It has the traditional name Shaula, which comes from the 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...
الشولاء al-šawlā´ meaning the raised [tail], as it is found in the tail of the scorpion (Scorpius). It is known as 尾宿八 (the Eighth Star of the Tail) in Chinese.
Lambda Scorpii is a multiple star
Multiple star
A multiple star consists of three or more stars which appear from the Earth to be close to one another in the sky. This may result from the stars being physically close and gravitationally bound to each other, in which case it is physical, or this closeness may be merely apparent, in which case...
with three visible components. The first,
Lambda Scorpii A, is classified as a 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...
subgiant. The 15th
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...
Lambda Scorpii B has a separation of 42 arcseconds from component A,
while the 12th magnitude Lambda Scorpii C is 95 arcseconds from A. It is not known whether or not
these components are physically associated with component A. If they both were,
B would be approximately 7500 Astronomical Units and C approximately 17,000 AU (0.27 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 A.
Spectroscopic and interferometric
Astronomical interferometer
An astronomical interferometer is an array of telescopes or mirror segments acting together to probe structures with higher resolution by means of interferometry....
observations
have shown that A is actually a triple system
Star system
A star system or stellar system is a small number of stars which orbit each other, bound by gravitational attraction. A large number of stars bound by gravitation is generally called a star cluster or galaxy, although, broadly speaking, they are also star systems.-Binary star systems:A stellar...
consisting of two 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...
stars and a pre–main sequence star. The primary star is also a beta Cephei variable
Beta Cephei variable
Beta Cephei variables are variable stars which exhibit variations in their brightness due to pulsations of the stars' surfaces. The point of maximum brightness roughly corresponds to the maximum contraction of the star. Typically, Beta Cephei variables change in brightness by 0.01 to 0.3...
star. The pre–main sequence star has an orbital period of 6 days and the B companion has a period of 1053 days. The three stars lie in the same orbital plane, strongly suggesting that they were formed at the same time. The masses of the primary, pre–main sequence star and the B companion are
10.4±1.3, 1.8±0.2 and 8.1±1.0 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, respectively. The age of the system is estimated to be in the range 10–13 million years.
The interferometric and spectroscopic observations allow the distance to the system to be determined independently of other methods. Its distance is 112±5 parsec
Parsec
The parsec is a unit of length used in astronomy. It is about 3.26 light-years, or just under 31 trillion kilometres ....
s.
Ancient culture
Together with υ ScoUpsilon Scorpii
Upsilon Scorpii is a star in the constellation Scorpius. It has the traditional name Lesath , from Arabic las'a = "pass of a poisonous animal"; but this is a miscorrection by Scaliger for earlier "Alascha", which came from Arabic al laţkha = "the foggy...
(Lesath), Shaula is listed in MUL.APIN
MUL.APIN
MUL.APIN is the conventional title given to a Babylonian compendium that deals with many diverse aspects of Babylonian astronomy and astrology....
as dSharur4 u dShargaz, meaning "Sharur and Shargaz".
Modern legacy
Shaula appears on the flag of BrazilFlag of Brazil
The national flag of Brazil is a blue disc depicting a starry sky spanned by a curved band inscribed with the national motto, within a yellow rhombus, on a green field. Brazil officially adopted this design for its national flag on November 19, 1889, replacing the flag of the second Empire of Brazil...
, symbolising the state of Rio Grande do Norte
Rio Grande do Norte
Rio Grande do Norte is one of the states of Brazil, located in the northeastern region of the country, occupying the northeasternmost tip of the South American continent. Because of its geographic position, Rio Grande do Norte has a strategic importance. The capital and largest city is Natal...
.
Popular culture
- The fictional planetPlanetA planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
of CybertronCybertronCybertron is a fictional planet, the homeworld of the Transformers in the various fictional incarnations of the metaseries and toyline by Hasbro. In the Japanese series, the planet is referred to as "Cybertron" pronounced as セイバートロン Seibātoron...
(in The TransformersThe Transformers (IDW Publishing)The Transformers is a comic book series by IDW Publishing, based upon Hasbro's Transformers characters and toy line.Following Dreamwave Productions' bankruptcy in 2005, IDW picked up the rights and hired long-time Transformers writer Simon Furman to craft a rebooted Generation 1-based continuity,...
comics continuity by IDW PublishingIDW PublishingIDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
) orbits Lambda Scorpii (or "Shaula").
Namesakes
USS Shaula (AK-118)USS Shaula (AK-118)
USS Shaula was a commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the war zone....
was a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Crater class cargo ship
Crater class cargo ship
Crater-class cargo ship is a category of freighter that was constructed for use by the United States Navy during World War II under Maritime Commission EC2-S-C1 type....
named after the star.