Magnitude 3.51 | ||
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Similar Beta Eridani, Gamma Eridani, Theta Eridani, Zeta Eridani | ||
Delta Eridani (δ Eri, δ Eridani) is a 3.54 magnitude star in the constellation of Eridanus. It is also called Rana. The name Rana means "the frog" in Latin. Rana was referenced as a guide star in "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow"
In Chinese, 天苑 (Tiān Yuàn), meaning Celestial Meadows, refers to an asterism consisting of δ Eridani, γ Eridani, π Eridani, ε Eridani, ζ Eridani, η Eridani, π Ceti, τ1 Eridani, τ2 Eridani, τ3 Eridani, τ4 Eridani, τ5 Eridani, τ6 Eridani, τ7 Eridani, τ8 Eridani and τ9 Eridani. Consequently, δ Eridani itself is known as 天苑三 (Tiān Yuàn sān, English: the Third Star of Celestial Meadows.)
Structure
This star is relatively near to the Sun, at a measured distance of about 29 light years. It is sometime listed as a RS Canum Venaticorum-type variable star, but this is likely to be an error. (It is currently a suspected variable.) Rana is a sub-giant star that is near the end of its hydrogen-burning cycle and is now consuming helium. This has caused the star to expand and become hotter than a comparable main sequence star. As a sub-giant star it is subject to pulsations in its atmosphere.
Radial velocity surveys of this star have thus far failed to discern any gas giants in orbit.