Magnitude 4.08 Constellation Andromeda | Rotation 18 days Eccentricity 0 | |
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Similar Epsilon Andromedae, Eta Andromedae, Nu Andromedae, Mu Andromedae, Omicron Andromedae | ||
Zeta Andromedae (Zeta And, ζ Andromedae, ζ And) is a star system in the constellation Andromeda. It is approximately 189 light years from Earth.
Contents
Zeta Andromedae is a spectroscopic binary whose primary is classified as an orange K-type giant with a mean apparent magnitude of +4.08. In addition to brightness variation due to the ellipsoidal shape of the giant primary star, the system is also an RS Canum Venaticorum type variable star. Its brightness varies from magnitude +3.92 to +4.14 with a period of 17.77 days. The orbital period of the binary is 17.77 days.
Location
This star's location in the constellation Andromeda can be seen in the following diagram:
Components
A number of visual companions to the eclipsing binary have been observed. B has common proper motion with A, but C and D are probably only line-of-sight companions that have no physical association.
Naming
In Chinese, 奎宿 (Kuí Sù), meaning Legs (asterism), refers to an asterism consisting of ζ Andromedae, η Andromedae, 65 Piscium, ε Andromedae, δ Andromedae, π Andromedae, ν Andromedae, μ Andromedae, β Andromedae, σ Piscium, τ Piscium, 91 Piscium, υ Piscium, φ Piscium, χ Piscium and ψ¹ Piscium. Consequently, ζ Andromedae itself is known as 奎宿二 (Kuí Sù èr, English: the Second Star of Legs.)