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 May 28 2009  Two-for-one in Canis Major! |
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While imaging the four-star system HR2528 in Canis major, I found a second multiple star nearby: the binary HD49892. Both are at an approximate distance of 600 light years from us.
Components "A" and "B" of HR2528 are very close together, orbiting each other at a distance of only 300 a.u. (0.005 light years, or about ten times the distance of Neptune from the Sun). They are too close to separate in this picture. Components "C" and "D" are a little farther away, revolving around the main pair at about 5000 a.u.
The components of HD49892 orbit each other at about 5000 a.u. (0.08 light years). Although this system is about the same distance from us as is HR2528, it might be a few dozen light years closer or farther away. If their distance from us is the same, they would be only one light year apart.
The main stars of both systems are hot white stars, spectral class "A". Star "D" in the HR2528 system is a smaller and cooler star. It was previously classified as spectral class "M", but is now considered to belong to a new category "LV" which are "low mass infrared variables".
Click here to see my album of these stars.
The magnitudes of HR 2528's component stars are: A: +6.31, B: +8.02, C: +8.8, D: +13.00. Position angles and separations: AB (1991): 209°, 1.79"; AC (1825): 281°, 30.50"; AD (1898): 2°, 29.30". Distance 580 +/- 91.0 LY.
The magnitudes of HD49892's components are +8.3 and +8.5. Position angle and separation (1825): 3°, 27.20". |
| Submitted by: RickyF | Location: Canary Islands T2 HM | Date: February 15 2007 |
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May 28 2009
Views: 987
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nice pic., I'll try for it the next time I'm out.