Orion variable
Encyclopedia
An Orion variable is a variable star
which exhibits irregular
and eruptive variations in its luminosity
and is typically associated with diffuse nebula
e. It is thought that these are young stars which will later become regular, non-variable stars on the zero-age main sequence. Brightness fluctuations can be as much as several magnitudes.
T Tauri stars are Orion variables exhibiting characteristic fluorescent violet emission lines from singly ionized Iron
(FeII) in their star spectra
, and also emission from Lithium
, a metal that usually is destroyed by the nuclear fusion in the stars.
FU Orionis stars or simply "Fuors", are Orion variables that rise 5-6 magnitudes sink up to one magnitude and stay there for many decades. The prototype is FU Orionis
, and other specimens are V1057 Cygni and V1515 Cygni.
Of this diverse class of stars, some Orion variables may exhibit a small amplitude (up to 1 magnitude) periodic variation, some are characterized by abrupt fadings, and some show spectral characteristics indicating mass downfall upon the star (YY Orionis stars). Many of these characteristics may occur in any one Orion variable.
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...
which exhibits irregular
Irregular variable
An irregular variable is a type of variable star in which variations in brightness show no regular periodicity. There are two main sub-types of irregular variable: eruptive and pulsating.Eruptive irregular variables are divided into three categories:...
and eruptive variations in its luminosity
Luminosity
Luminosity is a measurement of brightness.-In photometry and color imaging:In photometry, luminosity is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to luminance, which is the density of luminous intensity in a given direction. The SI unit for luminance is candela per square metre.The luminosity function...
and is typically associated with diffuse nebula
Nebula
A nebula is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen gas, helium gas and other ionized gases...
e. It is thought that these are young stars which will later become regular, non-variable stars on the zero-age main sequence. Brightness fluctuations can be as much as several magnitudes.
T Tauri stars are Orion variables exhibiting characteristic fluorescent violet emission lines from singly ionized Iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
(FeII) in their star spectra
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...
, and also emission from Lithium
Lithium
Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal that belongs to the alkali metal group of chemical elements. It is represented by the symbol Li, and it has the atomic number 3. Under standard conditions it is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element. Like all alkali metals, lithium is highly...
, a metal that usually is destroyed by the nuclear fusion in the stars.
FU Orionis stars or simply "Fuors", are Orion variables that rise 5-6 magnitudes sink up to one magnitude and stay there for many decades. The prototype is FU Orionis
FU Orionis
In stellar evolution, an FU Orionis star is a pre–main sequence star which displays an extreme change in magnitude and spectral type. One example is the star V1057 Cyg, which became 6 magnitudes brighter and went from spectral type dKe to F supergiant...
, and other specimens are V1057 Cygni and V1515 Cygni.
Of this diverse class of stars, some Orion variables may exhibit a small amplitude (up to 1 magnitude) periodic variation, some are characterized by abrupt fadings, and some show spectral characteristics indicating mass downfall upon the star (YY Orionis stars). Many of these characteristics may occur in any one Orion variable.