Magnitude 5.52 | Constellation Apus | |
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People also search for Zeta Apodis, Epsilon Apodis | ||
Kappa1 Apodis is the Bayer designation for a binary star system in the southern circumpolar constellation of Apus. Based upon parallax measurements, it is located roughly 1,200 light-years (370 parsecs) from Earth. The combined apparent visual magnitude of the system is 5.52, indicating that this is a faint, naked eye star that can be viewed in dark suburban skies.
This is a spectroscopic binary system with an orbital period of 0.6 days. The combined spectrum matches a stellar classification of B1npe. The 'e' suffix indicates that this is a Be star with emission lines in the spectrum. An 'n' means that the absorption lines in the spectrum are broadened from the Doppler effect as a result of rapid rotation. Finally, the 'p' shows some peculiarity in the spectrum. It is classified as a Gamma Cassiopeiae type variable star and its brightness varies from magnitude +5.43 to +5.61.
This is a runaway star with a peculiar velocity of 69.8 ± 4.7 km/s. Because it is a binary star system, it was most likely not turned into a runaway system as the result of a supernova explosion. A companion star is a 12th magnitude orange K-type subgiant located at an angular separation of 27 arcseconds.