Magnitude 5.163 Apparent magnitude (V) 5.163 | Constellation Hercules | |
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Similar Pi Herculis, Theta Herculis, Beta Herculis, Mu Herculis, Alpha Herculis | ||
Kappa Herculis (κ Her, κ Herculis) is a double star in the constellation Hercules. Traditional names that have been attributed to the star are "Marfik", "Marfak" or "Marsic", all of which come from the Arabic لمرفق Al-Mirfaq meaning "the elbow", a name (or some derivative of which) it shares with Lambda Ophiuchi.
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Properties
Kappa Herculis is a giant star with stellar classification G8III. With a mass of 3.0 M☉ and radius that is 16 R☉, the star boasts a total bolometric luminosity that is 150 L☉. Its apparent magnitude has been recently recalibrated at 5.1628. The Hipparcos mission estimated its distance at roughly 120 parsecs from Earth, or 390 ± 20 light years away.
Etymology
In Chinese, 天市右垣 (Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán), meaning Right Wall of Heavenly Market Enclosure, refers to an asterism which is represent eleven old states in China which is marking the right borderline of the enclosure, consisting of κ Herculis, β Herculis, γ Herculis, γ Serpentis, β Serpentis, δ Serpentis, α Serpentis, ε Serpentis, δ Ophiuchi, ε Ophiuchi and ζ Ophiuchi. Consequently, κ Herculis itself is known as 天市右垣三 (Tiān Shì Yòu Yuán sān, English: the Third Star of Right Wall of Heavenly Market Enclosure), represent the state Jin (晉) (or Tsin)., together with 36 Capricorni in Twelve States (asterism).