Saiph
 Location of Saiph (circled) |
|
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation | Orion |
| Right ascension | 05h 47m 45.38884s[1] |
| Declination | −09° 40′ 10.5777″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 2.09[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | B0.5Iavar[3] |
| U−B color index | –1.02[2] |
| B−V color index | –0.18[2] |
| Variable type | Slightly[4] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +20.5[5] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: +1.46[1] mas/yr Dec.: –1.28[1] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 5.04 ± 0.22[1] mas |
| Distance | 650 ± 30 ly (198 ± 9 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | –6.1[6] |
| Details | |
| Mass | 15.50 ± 1.25[7] M☉ |
| Radius | 22.2[6] R☉ |
| Luminosity | 56,881[7] L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 2.9[6] cgs |
| Temperature | 26,500[6] K |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 83[6] km/s |
| Age | 11.1 ± 0.5[8] Myr |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Saiph (κ Orionis, 53 Orionis) is the sixth-brightest star in the constellation of Orion. Of the four bright stars that compose Orion's main quadrangle, it is the star at the south-eastern corner. A northern-hemisphere observer facing south would see it at the lower left of Orion, and a southern-hemisphere observer facing north would see it at the upper right. The name Saiph is from the Arabic saif al jabbar, 'سیف الجبّار' literally sword of the giant.[10] This name was originally applied to Eta Orionis.[citation needed]
In the 17th century catalogue of stars in the Calendarium of Al Achsasi al Mouakket, this star was designated Rekbah al Jauza al Yemeniat, which was translated into Latin as Genu Dextrum Gigantis "right knee of the giant".[11]
Parallax measurements yield an estimated distance of 650 light-years (198 parsecs) from Earth, which is about the same as Betelgeuse.[1] However despite being a hotter star, it is smaller and less luminous than Rigel with an apparent visual magnitude of 2.1.[2] The luminosity of this star changes slightly, varying by 0.04 magnitudes.[4]
Saiph has a stellar classification of B0.5 Ia. The luminosity class 'Ia' represents a bright supergiant star that has exhausted the supply of hydrogen at its core and evolved away from the main sequence. Saiph has a strong stellar wind and is losing mass at the rate of 9.0 × 10−7 times the mass of the Sun per year, or the equivalent of the Sun's mass every 1.1 million years.[6] Using a combination of parallax as determined by HIPPARCOS and spectrum yields a mass 15.50 ± 1.25 times and luminosity 56,881 times that of the Sun.[7] Analysis of the spectra and age of the members of the Orion OB1 association yields a mass 28 times that of the Sun (from an original mass 31.8 times that of the Sun) and an age of 6.2 million years.[12] Large stars such as Saiph (and many other stars in Orion) are destined to collapse on themselves and explode as Type II supernovae.[10]
Cultural significance
The Wardaman people of northern Australia know Saiph as the Guman digging stick, used to make a canyon by Black-headed Python.[13]
References
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- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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