Seismic Analysis of 70 Ophiuchi A: a New Quantity Proposed New

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Seismic Analysis of 70 Ophiuchi A: a New Quantity Proposed New New Astronomy 13 (2008) 541–548 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect New Astronomy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/newast Seismic analysis of 70 Ophiuchi A: A new quantity proposed Y.K. Tang a,c,*, S.L. Bi b,a, N. Gai a,c a National Astronomical Observatories/Yunnan Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650011, PR China b Department of Astronomy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China c Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, PR China article info abstract Article history: The basic intent of this paper is to model 70 Ophiuchi A using the latest asteroseismic observations as Received 16 July 2007 complementary constraints and to determine the fundamental parameters of the star. Additionally, we Received in revised form 26 February 2008 propose a new quantity to lift the degeneracy between the initial chemical composition and stellar Accepted 26 February 2008 age. Using the Yale stellar evolution code (YREC7), we construct a series of stellar evolutionary tracks Available online 2 March 2008 for the mass range M = 0.85–0.93 M with different composition Y (0.26–0.30) and Z (0.017–0.023). Communicated by W. Soon i i Along these tracks, we select a grid of stellar model candidates that fall within the error box in the HR diagram to calculate the theoretical frequencies, the large- and small-frequency separations using Guen- Keywords: ther’s stellar pulsation code. Following the asymptotic formula of stellar p-modes, we define a quantity Stars: oscillations Stars: evolution r01 which is correlated with stellar age. Also, we test it by theoretical adiabatic frequencies of many mod- Stars: individual: 70 Ophiuchi A els. Many detailed models of 70 Ophiuchi A are listed in Table 3. By combining all non-asteroseismic observations available for 70 Ophiuchi A with these seismological data, we think that Model 60, Model 125 and Model 126, listed in Table 3, are the optimum models presently. Meanwhile, we predict that the radius of this star is about 0.860–0.865 R and the age is about 6.8–7.0 Gyr with mass 0.89–0.90 M . Additionally, we prove that the new quantity r01 can be a useful indicator of stellar age. Ó 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Recently, Carrier and Eggenberger (2006) detected solar-like oscillations on the K0 V star 70 Ophiuchi A (HD 165341), and iden- The solar 5-min oscillations have led to a wealth of information tified some possible existing frequencies. They obtained the large about the internal structure of the Sun. These results stimulated separation Dm = 161.7 ± 0.3 lHz by observation over six nights with various attempts to detect solar-like oscillations for a handful of HARPS. The spectroscopic visual binary system 70 Ophiuchi is one solar-type stars. Individual p-mode frequencies have been identi- of our nearest neighbors (5 pc) and is among the first discovered fied for a few stars: a Cen A (Bouchy and Carrier, 2002; Bedding binary stars. It was observed first by Herschel in 1779. So 70 et al., 2004), a Cen B (Carrier and Bourban, 2003; Kjeldsen et al., Ophiuchi A is famous as the primary of a visual and spectroscopic 2005), l Arae (Bouchy et al., 2005), HD 49933 (Mosser et al., binary system in the solar neighborhood. Although many observa- 2005), b Vir (Martic´ et al., 2004a; Carrier et al., 2005b), Procyon A tion data have been obtained since 1779, the theoretical analysis of (Martic´ et al., 2004b; Eggenberger et al., 2004a), g Bootis (Kjeldsen 70 Ophiuchi A has only been made by Fernandes et al. (1998).Bya et al., 2003; Carrier et al., 2005a), b Hyi (Bedding et al., 2001; Car- calibration method which takes into account the simultaneous rier et al., 2001) and d Eri (Carrier et al., 2003b). Based on these evolution of the two members of the binary system, they analyzed asteroseismic data, numerous theoretical analyses have been per- 70 Ophiuchi A by means of standard evolutionary stellar models formed in order to determine precise global stellar parameters using the CESAM code (Morel, 1997) without microscopic diffu- and to test the various complicating physical effects on the stellar sion. They found that the metallicity of 70 Ophiuchi A is very close structure and evolutionary theory (Thévenin et al., 2002; Eggen- to the solar one, the values of the mixing-length parameter a and berger et al., 2004b, 2005; Kervella et al., 2004; Miglio and Mont- helium abundance Y are near the Sun. They thought that the star albán, 2005; Provost et al., 2004, 2006). is younger than the Sun and 3 ± 2 Gyr is probably a limit consider- ing the age versus stellar rotation relation with its rotation velocity (vsini 16 km sÀ1). * Corresponding author. Address: National Astronomical Observatories/Yunnan The aim of our paper is to present the model which can be con- Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650011, PR China. Fax: +86 strained by these seismology data. The observational constraints 3920154. E-mail addresses: [email protected], [email protected] (Y.K. Tang), bisl@ available for 70 Ophiuchi A are summarized in Section 2, while bnu.edu.cn (S.L. Bi). the numerical calculations are presented in Section 3. The seismic 1384-1076/$ - see front matter Ó 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.newast.2008.02.002 542 Y.K. Tang et al. / New Astronomy 13 (2008) 541–548 analyses are carried out and a new quantity r01 as an indication of large separation of 161.7 lHz, the solution Dm = 172.2 lHz cannot stellar age is proposed in Section 4. Finally, the discussion and con- be ruled out definitely. We refer to these two groups of results in clusions are given in Section 5. the paper and make analyses in Sections 4 and 5. 2. Observational constraints 3. Stellar models 2.1. Non-asteroseismic observation constraints We will construct a grid of stellar evolutionary models by the Yale stellar evolution code (YREC; Guenther et al., 1992) with The mass of this star was investigated by Batten et al. (1984), microscopic diffusion. The initial zero-age main sequence (ZAMS) Heintz (1988), Fernandes et al. (1998) and Pourbaix (2000). In this model used for 70 Ophiuchi A was created from pre-main sequence paper, we adopt the value of the mass deduced from Fernandes evolution calculations. In these computations, we do not consider et al. (1998). The effective temperature was determined by Gray rotation and magnetic field effects. These models are computed and Johanson (1991). So far, the metallicity values obtained by using OPAL equation of state tables EOS2001 (Rogers and Nayfo- observation are [Fe/H] = À0.05 (Peterson, 1978) and [Fe/H] = 0.00 nov, 2002), the opacities interpolated between OPAL GN93 (Igle- (Perrin et al., 1975). We choose [Fe/H] = 0.0 ± 0.1 as a representa- sias and Rogers, 1996) and low temperature tables (Alexander tive value according to Fernandes et al. (1998). and Ferguson, 1994). Using the standard mixing-length theory, The mass fraction of heavy-elements, Z, was derived assuming we set a = 1.7 for all models, close to the value which is required log[Z/X] [Fe/H] + log[Z/X] and [Z/X] = 0.0230 (Grevesse and to reproduce the solar radius under the same physical assumptions Sauval, 1998), for the solar mixture. So we can deduce the [Z/ and stellar evolution code. Meanwhile, it must be emphasized that X]s = 0.0183–0.0290. there are still a number of uncertainties in our analyses, foremost All non-asteroseismic observational constraints are listed in Ta- among which is the still open question of the mixing-length theory ble 1. responsible for the stellar model. The nuclear reaction rates have been updated according to Bahcall et al. (1995). The Krishna- 2.2. Asteroseismic constraints Swamy Atmosphere T–s relation is used for this solar-like star (Guenther and Demarque, 2000). Also, we consider the microscopic Solar-like oscillations of 70 Ophiuchi A have been detected by diffusion effect, by using the diffusion coefficients of Thoul et al. Carrier and Eggenberger (2006) with the HARPS spectrograph. (1994). Since 70 Ophiuchi A, like a Cen B, is less massive than the Fourteen individual modes are identified with amplitudes in the Sun, the mass contained in its convective zone is much larger range 11–14 cm sÀ1. Although they listed two groups of frequen- and, therefore, the effect of microscopic diffusion is much smaller cies by mode identification (see Table 2 in Carrier and Eggenberger, (Miglio and Montalbán, 2005; Morel and Baglin, 1999). However, 2006), one group of frequencies with an average large separation it is necessary to consider this effect as a physical process in stellar Dm = 161.7 lHz was suggested to be more reliable than the other modeling (see Provost et al., 2005; Provost et al., 2006). with an average large separation Dm = 172.2 lHz. The star 70 In general, the determination of parameters (M,t,Yi,Zi) fitting Ophiuchi A is very similar to a Cen B with the same spectral type the observational constraints needs two steps. The first step is to and similar large separation, which has a mean small separation construct a grid of models with position in the HR diagram in of 10 lHz. It is thought that the small separation should be similar. agreement with the observational values of the luminosity, the By inspecting the results of the mode identification, they note that effective temperature and the surface metallicity. The principal the value of the small separation coming from the identification constraints deduced from non-asteroseismic observation are listed with the large separation of 172.2 lHz is significantly different in Table 1.
Recommended publications
  • Catching up with Barnard's Star. Dave Eagle Within the Constellation Of
    Catching Up with Barnard’s Star. Dave Eagle Within the constellation of Ophiuchus lies Barnard’s Star. It is a fairly faint red dwarf star of magnitude 9.53, six light years from Earth, so is fairly close to us. Its luminosity is 1/2,500th that of the Sun and 16% its mass. The diameter is estimated at about 140,000 miles, so it’s quite a small, faint star and well below naked eye visibility. So why is this star so well known? In 1916 Edward Barnard looked at a photographic plate of the area. When he compared this to a similar plate made in 1894, he noticed that one of the stars had moved between the time of the two plates being taken. Although all the stars in the sky in reality are all moving quite fast, from our remote vantage point on Earth most stars appear to appear virtually static during our lifetime as their apparent motion is extremely small. Barnard’s star, being so close and moving so fast, is one of the stars that bucks this trend. So fast indeed that it will subtend the apparent diameter equivalent to the Moon or Sun in about 176 years. So compared to other stars it is really shifting. The star is travelling at 103 miles per second and is approaching us at about 87 miles per second. In about 8,000 years it will become the closest star to us, at just under 4 light years and will have brightened to magnitude 8.6. Peter van de Camp caused great excitement in the 1960’s when he claimed to have discovered a planet (or more) around the star, due to wobbles superimposed on its movement.
    [Show full text]
  • 100 Closest Stars Designation R.A
    100 closest stars Designation R.A. Dec. Mag. Common Name 1 Gliese+Jahreis 551 14h30m –62°40’ 11.09 Proxima Centauri Gliese+Jahreis 559 14h40m –60°50’ 0.01, 1.34 Alpha Centauri A,B 2 Gliese+Jahreis 699 17h58m 4°42’ 9.53 Barnard’s Star 3 Gliese+Jahreis 406 10h56m 7°01’ 13.44 Wolf 359 4 Gliese+Jahreis 411 11h03m 35°58’ 7.47 Lalande 21185 5 Gliese+Jahreis 244 6h45m –16°49’ -1.43, 8.44 Sirius A,B 6 Gliese+Jahreis 65 1h39m –17°57’ 12.54, 12.99 BL Ceti, UV Ceti 7 Gliese+Jahreis 729 18h50m –23°50’ 10.43 Ross 154 8 Gliese+Jahreis 905 23h45m 44°11’ 12.29 Ross 248 9 Gliese+Jahreis 144 3h33m –9°28’ 3.73 Epsilon Eridani 10 Gliese+Jahreis 887 23h06m –35°51’ 7.34 Lacaille 9352 11 Gliese+Jahreis 447 11h48m 0°48’ 11.13 Ross 128 12 Gliese+Jahreis 866 22h39m –15°18’ 13.33, 13.27, 14.03 EZ Aquarii A,B,C 13 Gliese+Jahreis 280 7h39m 5°14’ 10.7 Procyon A,B 14 Gliese+Jahreis 820 21h07m 38°45’ 5.21, 6.03 61 Cygni A,B 15 Gliese+Jahreis 725 18h43m 59°38’ 8.90, 9.69 16 Gliese+Jahreis 15 0h18m 44°01’ 8.08, 11.06 GX Andromedae, GQ Andromedae 17 Gliese+Jahreis 845 22h03m –56°47’ 4.69 Epsilon Indi A,B,C 18 Gliese+Jahreis 1111 8h30m 26°47’ 14.78 DX Cancri 19 Gliese+Jahreis 71 1h44m –15°56’ 3.49 Tau Ceti 20 Gliese+Jahreis 1061 3h36m –44°31’ 13.09 21 Gliese+Jahreis 54.1 1h13m –17°00’ 12.02 YZ Ceti 22 Gliese+Jahreis 273 7h27m 5°14’ 9.86 Luyten’s Star 23 SO 0253+1652 2h53m 16°53’ 15.14 24 SCR 1845-6357 18h45m –63°58’ 17.40J 25 Gliese+Jahreis 191 5h12m –45°01’ 8.84 Kapteyn’s Star 26 Gliese+Jahreis 825 21h17m –38°52’ 6.67 AX Microscopii 27 Gliese+Jahreis 860 22h28m 57°42’ 9.79,
    [Show full text]
  • August 13 2016 7:00Pm at the Herrett Center for Arts & Science College of Southern Idaho
    Snake River Skies The Newsletter of the Magic Valley Astronomical Society www.mvastro.org Membership Meeting President’s Message Saturday, August 13th 2016 7:00pm at the Herrett Center for Arts & Science College of Southern Idaho. Public Star Party Follows at the Colleagues, Centennial Observatory Club Officers It's that time of year: The City of Rocks Star Party. Set for Friday, Aug. 5th, and Saturday, Aug. 6th, the event is the gem of the MVAS year. As we've done every Robert Mayer, President year, we will hold solar viewing at the Smoky Mountain Campground, followed by a [email protected] potluck there at the campground. Again, MVAS will provide the main course and 208-312-1203 beverages. Paul McClain, Vice President After the potluck, the party moves over to the corral by the bunkhouse over at [email protected] Castle Rocks, with deep sky viewing beginning sometime after 9 p.m. This is a chance to dig into some of the darkest skies in the west. Gary Leavitt, Secretary [email protected] Some members have already reserved campsites, but for those who are thinking of 208-731-7476 dropping by at the last minute, we have room for you at the bunkhouse, and would love to have to come by. Jim Tubbs, Treasurer / ALCOR [email protected] The following Saturday will be the regular MVAS meeting. Please check E-mail or 208-404-2999 Facebook for updates on our guest speaker that day. David Olsen, Newsletter Editor Until then, clear views, [email protected] Robert Mayer Rick Widmer, Webmaster [email protected] Magic Valley Astronomical Society is a member of the Astronomical League M-51 imaged by Rick Widmer & Ken Thomason Herrett Telescope Shotwell Camera https://herrett.csi.edu/astronomy/observatory/City_of_Rocks_Star_Party_2016.asp Calendars for August Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 New Moon City Rocks City Rocks Lunation 1158 Castle Rocks Castle Rocks Star Party Star Party Almo, ID Almo, ID 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 MVAS General Mtg.
    [Show full text]
  • The Interstellar Medium --- HW060227
    Introduction to Astronomy HW150312 due in one week 1. (a) Estimate how many kilograms of hydrogen the Sun has consumed over the past 4.56 billion years, and estimate the amount of mass that the Sun has lost as a result. Assume that the Sun’s luminosity has remained the same during the time. (b) In fact, however, the Sun’s luminosity when it first formed was only about 70% of its present value (the “faint young sun paradox”). With this in mind, explain whether your answers are an overestimate or an underestimate. 2. How far away is a star that has a proper motion of 0.08 arcseconds per year and a tangential velocity (proper motion) of 40 km/s? For a star at this distance, what would its tangential velocity have to be in order for it to exhibit the same proper motion as Barnard’s star? 3. The visual binary 70 Ophiuchi has a period of 87.7 years. The parallax of 70 Ophiuchi is 0.2 arcseconds, and the apparent length of the semimajor axis as seen through a telescope is 4.5 arcsec. (a) What is the distance to 70 Ophiuchi in parsecs? (b) What is the actual length of the semimajor axis in AU? (c) What is the sum of the masses of the two stars in solar masses? 4. Search the World Wide Web for information about Gaia, a European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft meant to extend the work carried out by Hipparcos. What is the status of Gaia? What is the main mission of Gaia? How does it compare to Hipparcos in terms of performance? What other types of research is it supposed to carry out? 5.
    [Show full text]
  • The Detectability of Nightside City Lights on Exoplanets
    Draft version September 6, 2021 Typeset using LATEX twocolumn style in AASTeX63 The Detectability of Nightside City Lights on Exoplanets Thomas G. Beatty1 1Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; [email protected] ABSTRACT Next-generation missions designed to detect biosignatures on exoplanets will also be capable of plac- ing constraints on the presence of technosignatures (evidence for technological life) on these same worlds. Here, I estimate the detectability of nightside city lights on habitable, Earth-like, exoplan- ets around nearby stars using direct-imaging observations from the proposed LUVOIR and HabEx observatories. I use data from the Soumi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite to determine the surface flux from city lights at the top of Earth's atmosphere, and the spectra of commercially available high-power lamps to model the spectral energy distribution of the city lights. I consider how the detectability scales with urbanization fraction: from Earth's value of 0.05%, up to the limiting case of an ecumenopolis { or planet-wide city. I then calculate the minimum detectable urbanization fraction using 300 hours of observing time for generic Earth-analogs around stars within 8 pc of the Sun, and for nearby known potentially habitable planets. Though Earth itself would not be detectable by LUVOIR or HabEx, planets around M-dwarfs close to the Sun would show detectable signals from city lights for urbanization levels of 0.4% to 3%, while city lights on planets around nearby Sun-like stars would be detectable at urbanization levels of & 10%. The known planet Proxima b is a particu- larly compelling target for LUVOIR A observations, which would be able to detect city lights twelve times that of Earth in 300 hours, an urbanization level that is expected to occur on Earth around the mid-22nd-century.
    [Show full text]
  • 70 Ophiuchi – Realm of Orange Suns
    STAR OF THE MONTH 70 Ophiuchi – Realm of Orange Suns by Steven C. Raine here is darkness of a perfect night sky all around be a separate constellation by the Arabians, judging by a except for an orange glow coming from twin spheres 13th century globe “now resting in the Borgian museum at T of light like sun-sized mandarins. The effect is Villetri.” (Motz & Nathanson, 1991.) almost like streetlights hidden in the dark and blurred to The nearness to our Sun is however only a small part of roundness by thick fog. Yet from here stars are visible this star’s renown, for 70 Ophiuchi is best known as a binary everywhere and not the stars of home although surprisingly star system. As you can see from Figure 2, the two stars similar. A clue to the location is the way the stars nearest orbit their shared centre of gravity—the barycentre—in 88 our own Sun have shifted, Sirius, Procyon and Alpha years. An orbital period which Dole notes is “almost identi- Centauri the most notably displaced and altered in radiance. cal with … Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B.” The Towards Orion is an unfamiliar star of third magnitude primary star 70 Ophiuchi A is a K1 type main sequence which happens to be a G2 type star—the Sun of humanity star with an absolute magnitude of +5.8 and the secondary (Dole, 1964). This is the environs near 70 Ophiuchi, a binary star 70 Ophiuchi B is another orange dwarf but somewhat star located amongst the closest of our celestial neighbours fainter with an absolute magnitude of +7.3 and a spectral a meagre 16.5 light years away.
    [Show full text]
  • Analysis of 70 Ophiuchi AB Including Seismic Constraints
    A&A 482, 631–638 (2008) Astronomy DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20078624 & c ESO 2008 Astrophysics Analysis of 70 Ophiuchi AB including seismic constraints P. Eggenberger1 , A. Miglio1, F. Carrier2, J. Fernandes3, and N. C. Santos4 1 Institut d’Astrophysique et de Géophysique de l’Université de Liège, 17 allée du 6 Août, 4000 Liège, Belgium e-mail: [eggenberger;miglio]@astro.ulg.ac.be 2 Institute of Astronomy, University of Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200 B, 3001 Leuven, Belgium e-mail: [email protected] 3 Observatório Astronómico da Universidade de Coimbra e Departamento de Matemática, FCTUC, Portugal e-mail: [email protected] 4 Centro de Astrofísica, Universidade do Porto, Rua das Estrelas, 4150-762 Porto, Portugal e-mail: [email protected] Received 6 September 2007 / Accepted 4 February 2008 ABSTRACT Context. The analysis of solar-like oscillations for stars belonging to a binary system provides a unique opportunity to probe the internal stellar structure and to test our knowledge of stellar physics. Such oscillations have been recently observed and characterized for the A component of the 70 Ophiuchi system. Aims. We determined the global parameters of 70 Ophiuchi AB using the new asteroseismic measurements now available for 70 Oph A and tested the input physics introduced in stellar evolution codes. Methods. Three different stellar evolution codes and two different calibration methods were used to perform a comprehensive analysis of the 70 Ophiuchi system. Results. A model of 70 Ophiuchi AB that correctly reproduces all observational constraints available for both stars is determined. An age of 6.2±1.0 Gyr is found with an initial helium mass fraction Yi = 0.266±0.015 and an initial metallicity (Z/X)i = 0.0300±0.0025 when atomic diffusion is included and a solar value of the mixing-length parameter assumed.
    [Show full text]
  • Major Qualifying Project
    The Search for Exoplanets A Major Qualifying Project Submitted by: Christian J. Iamartino To the faculty of: Worcester Polytechnic Institute In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of: Bachelor of Science For the department of: PHYSICS Advised by: P.K. Aravind September 25, 2014 1 Table of Contents 1. Abstract ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 2. Motivation ................................................................................................................................................. 5 3. Project Objectives ..................................................................................................................................... 6 4. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 7 4.1 What are Exoplanets? ......................................................................................................................... 7 4.2 Why Search for Them? ....................................................................................................................... 8 4.3 A Brief History of Exoplanets, From Antiquity to Modern Times ..................................................... 9 4.3.1 Origins of the Planetary Sciences ................................................................................................ 9 4.3.2 The Emergence and Development of
    [Show full text]
  • A Corner of Ophiuchus for Binoculars by John Flannery, SDAS
    A corner of Ophiuchus for binoculars by John Flannery, SDAS PPEARING OVER the southeastern horizon as tinguish from foreground stars randomly scattered we slip into Summer is Ophiuchus, the across the field. “SerpentA Bearer”. The pattern is becoming well placed Keeping Cr 350 at the west (right) edge of the at the moment for observers that wish to plumb the 20x60s will enable the double star S694 to fall within constellation for the rich array of deep sky objects to be the same field of view at the eastern edge. Remember found within its boundaries. that while my binoculars have a 3° field, lower power A large dim constellation that abuts the Milky instruments will have a wider field of view. S694 is a Way, it has 13 stars above fourth magnitude with pair of almost equal magnitude suns (+6.9 and +7.1 Rasalhague, or Alpha Ophiuchi, a second magnitude respectively) with a separation of 82 arcseconds. The sun marking the head of Æsculapius, the mythological two were easily split with both appearing dusky-grey in figure whom the constellation represents. Eight de- tint – probably because of the hazy sky at the time. grees roughly to the south of this star is Beta (+2.7), Next up is a non-existant object, or rather, a now- or Cheleb, marking the start point for our tour. defunct constellation. From a dark site you may spy a Just north of cream-coloured Beta is the loose open downward pointing triangular-shaped group of stars cluster IC 4665. My 20x60mm binoculars showed nu- with the naked eye about 8° east of Beta.
    [Show full text]
  • Hertzsprung-Russel (H-R) Diagram Name ______Hour _____
    Hertzsprung-Russel (H-R) Diagram Name _________________________ Hour _____ Introduction: Early astronomers had to rely on naked-eye observations to gather information about stars. From naked-eye observations, only a limited amount of information could be obtained. Differences in apparent brightness could be observed, but as you know a star's apparent brightness, its visual magnitude, is not always a good indicator of the star's absolute light being emitted by the star, not how bright it appears to us. Some slight variations in color could be observed with the naked-eye, but these observable variations did not give these astronomers a significant amount of information about the stars. By using only naked-eye observations, the amount of information available to early astronomers was not very great. As astronomers gathered more and more information about the stars, they began to find relationships between the various properties of stars. For example, the following relationships between color and temperature were established. Star Group Color (as seen through a camera) Surface Temp. (Degrees Kelvin) O violet about 45,000 B blue 25,000 A green 11,000 F white 7,500 G yellow 6,000 K reddish-orange 5,000 M,R,N,S red up to 3,000 In time, ways to graph the relationships between various stellar characteristics were developed. One type of graph, the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram, became widely accepted as a means of studying stars. The H-R diagram is a plot of temperature, or color, against luminosity. Stars Visual Distance Temperature Luminosity
    [Show full text]
  • ASTR 1020 Homework Solutions
    ASTR 1020 Homework Solutions Chapter 1 24. Set up a proportion, but be sure that you express all the distances in the same units (e.g., centimeters). The diameter of the Sun is to the size of a basketball as the distance to Proxima Centauri (4.2 LY) is to the unknown distance (X), so (1.4 × 1011 cm) / (30 cm) = (4.2 LY)(9.46 × 1017 cm/LY) / (X) Rearranging terms, we get X = (4.2 LY)(9.46 × 1017 cm/LY)(30 cm) / (1.4 × 1011 cm) = 8.51 × 108 cm = 8.51 × 103 km = 8510 km In other words, if the Sun were the size of a 30-cm diameter ball, the nearest star would be 8510 km away, which is roughly the distance from Los Angeles to Tokyo. 27. The Sun’s hydrogen mass is (3/4) × (1.99 × 1030 kg) = 1.49 × 1030 kg. Now divide the Sun’s hydrogen mass by the mass of one hydrogen atom to get the number of hydrogen atoms contained in the Sun: (1.49 × 1030 kg) / (1.67 × 10-27 kg/atom) = 8.92 × 1056 atoms. 8 11 29. The distance from the Sun to the Earth is 1 AU = 1.496 × 10 km = 1.496 × 10 m. The light-travel time is the distance, 1 AU, divided by the speed of light, i.e., 11 8 3 time = distance/speed = (1.496 × 10 m) / (3.00 × 10 m/s) = 0.499 × 10 s = 499 s = 8.3 minutes. 34. Since you are given diameter (D = 2.6 cm) and angle, and asked to find distance, you need to rewrite the small-angle formula as d = (206,265)(D) / (α).
    [Show full text]
  • November 2018
    Page 1 Monthly Newsletter of the Durban Centre - November 2018 Page 2 Table Of Contents Chairman’s Chatter …...…………………….…...….………....….….… 3 A Speedy Little Double Star In Ophiuchus ………....…….………….. 4 At The Eyepiece ……………...……….…………………….….….….... 7 The Cover Image - Sagittarius Star Cloud …….........………...……... 9 Animals In Space ……...…………...……..……….……..………….… 10 Chinese Astronomy …………..………...……………….....……….… 17 The Month Ahead ………………………………………..…….………. 28 Minutes Of The Previous Meeting ……………...……………………. 29 Members Moments …………………………………….……………… 30 Public Viewing Roster …………………………….………...…...……. 30 Pre-loved Astronomical Equipment ....…………...….…….........…… 31 Angus Burns - Newcastle, KZN Member Submissions Disclaimer: The views expressed in ‘nDaba are solely those of the writer and are not necessarily the views of the Durban Centre, nor the Editor. All images and content is the work of the respective copyright owner Page 3 Chairman’s Chatter By Piet Strauss Dear Members, I could unfortunately not be present at our meeting on 10 October, but gather that Nino Wunderlin’s talk on “Rocket Propulsion” was most interesting. The Winterton Star Party is planned for Saturday 4 November and please remember the daytime “Wagtail” event on 10 November. The course on Basic Astronomy will be held during March/April next year. Non-members are also welcome but ASSA members will get a discount on the course fees. The Astrophotography course curriculum and presenters will be finalised shortly. We have so far not had a good response from members paying their annual membership fees, but appreciate those who did. We appeal to those who have not done so to please pay. If you do not, you cannot enjoy the benefits that members get. These include: The Monthly ‘nDaba newsletter Free dinner at the December meeting A low price Sky Guide Discounts on Courses Exciting Outings with your fellow members I would also like to thank John Visser for fixing a couple of telescopes for a school and in so doing attracted a reasonably good donation to our Society.
    [Show full text]