ARICNS data Constellation Auriga | Magnitude 4.71 Apparent magnitude (V) 4.71 | |
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Similar Delta Aurigae, Theta Aurigae, UU Aurigae, Beta Aurigae | ||
Lambda Aurigae (λ Aur, λ Aurigae) is the Bayer designation for a solar analog star in the northern constellation of Auriga. It has the traditional name Al Hurr and is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.71. Based upon parallax measurements made during the Hipparcos mission, it is approximately 41.2 light-years (12.6 parsecs) distant from the Earth.
This is a G-type main sequence star with a stellar classification of G1 V. In terms of composition it is similar to the Sun, while the mass and radius are slightly larger. It is 73% more luminous than the Sun and radiates this energy from its outer atmosphere at an effective temperature of 7003589000000000000♠5890 K. At this heat, the star glows with the yellow hue of a G-type star. It has a low level of surface activity and is a candidate Maunder minimum analog.
Lambda Aurigae has been examined for the presence of excess infrared emission that may indicate the presence of a circumstellar disk of dust, but no significant surplus has been observed. It is a possible member of the Epsilon Indi Moving Group of stars that share a common motion through space. The space velocity components of this star are [U, V, W] = [+76, –39, –6] km/s.
Name
This star is sometimes called by the name Al Hurr, meaning the fawn in Arabic. Lambda Aurigae, along with μ Aur and ρ Aur, were Kazwini's Al Ḣibāʽ (ألحباع), the Tent. According to the catalogue of stars in the Technical Memorandum 33-507 - A Reduced Star Catalog Containing 537 Named Stars, Al Ḣibāʽ were the title for three stars : λ Aur as Al Ḣibāʽ I, μ Aur as Al Ḣibāʽ II and ρ Aur as Al Ḣibāʽ III.
In Chinese, 咸池 (Xián Chí), meaning Pool of Harmony, refers to an asterism consisting of λ Aurigae, ρ Aurigae and HD 36041. Consequently, λ Aurigae itself is known as 咸池三 (Xián Chí sān, English: the Third Star of Pool of Harmony.)