Ross 128
Encyclopedia
Ross 128 is a red dwarf
star that is the eleventh closest star system
to the Solar System
, at a distance of 10.89 light years. It was first cataloged in 1926 by Frank Elmore Ross
.
This is an old disk star, which means it has a low metallicity
and orbits near the plane of the Milky Way
galaxy. It is classified as an active flare star
since it can undergo unpredictable and dramatic increases in luminosity for a period of several minutes. Because of the low rate of flare activity, it is thought to be a magnetically evolved star. That is, there is some evidence that the magnetic braking of the star's stellar wind has lowered the frequency of flares, but not the net yield.
On multiple occasions this star has been examined for the existence of a low stellar mass or brown dwarf companion orbiting at a distance of at least 1 astronomical unit
from the primary. However, no companion have yet been discovered. The star also lacks a strong excess of infrared
radiation. An infrared excess is usually an indicator of a dust ring in orbit around the star.
Ross 128 is orbiting through the Milky Way
at a distance from the galactic core that varies from 8.22 to 10.49 kpc
, and with an orbital eccentricity
of 0.122. This orbit will bring the star closer to the Solar System
in the future. The nearest approach will occur in about 71,000 years, when it will come within .
Red dwarf
According to the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, a red dwarf star is a small and relatively cool star, of the main sequence, either late K or M spectral type....
star that is the eleventh closest star 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...
to the Solar System
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
, at a distance of 10.89 light years. It was first cataloged in 1926 by Frank Elmore Ross
Frank Elmore Ross
Frank Elmore Ross was an American astronomer and physicist. He was born in San Francisco, California and died in Altadena, California. In 1901 he received his doctorate from the University of California. In 1905 he became director of the International Latitude Observatory station at Gaithersburg,...
.
This is an old disk star, which means it has a low metallicity
Metallicity
In astronomy and physical cosmology, the metallicity of an object is the proportion of its matter made up of chemical elements other than hydrogen and helium...
and orbits near the plane of the Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
galaxy. It is classified as an active flare star
Flare star
A flare star is a variable star that can undergo unpredictable dramatic increases in brightness for a few minutes. It is believed that the flares on flare stars are analogous to solar flares in that they are due to magnetic reconnection in the atmospheres of the stars. The brightness increase is...
since it can undergo unpredictable and dramatic increases in luminosity for a period of several minutes. Because of the low rate of flare activity, it is thought to be a magnetically evolved star. That is, there is some evidence that the magnetic braking of the star's stellar wind has lowered the frequency of flares, but not the net yield.
On multiple occasions this star has been examined for the existence of a low stellar mass or brown dwarf companion orbiting at a distance of at least 1 astronomical unit
Astronomical unit
An astronomical unit is a unit of length equal to about or approximately the mean Earth–Sun distance....
from the primary. However, no companion have yet been discovered. The star also lacks a strong excess of infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
radiation. An infrared excess is usually an indicator of a dust ring in orbit around the star.
Ross 128 is orbiting through the Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
at a distance from the galactic core that varies from 8.22 to 10.49 kpc
Parsec
The parsec is a unit of length used in astronomy. It is about 3.26 light-years, or just under 31 trillion kilometres ....
, and with an orbital eccentricity
Orbital eccentricity
The orbital eccentricity of an astronomical body is the amount by which its orbit deviates from a perfect circle, where 0 is perfectly circular, and 1.0 is a parabola, and no longer a closed orbit...
of 0.122. This orbit will bring the star closer to the Solar System
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
in the future. The nearest approach will occur in about 71,000 years, when it will come within .
See also
- List of nearest stars
- Ross 128 in fiction