56 Ursae Majoris

56 Ursae Majoris
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Ursa Major
Right ascension 11h 22m 49.58373s
Declination +43° 28 57.7267
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.03
Characteristics
Spectral type G7IIIBa0.3
U−B color index +0.82
B−V color index +1.02
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)1.01±0.05 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −35.561 mas/yr
Dec.: −10.651 mas/yr
Parallax (π)5.8813±0.0930 mas
Distance555 ± 9 ly
(170 ± 3 pc)
Orbit
Period (P)16,911+438
−401
days
Semi-major axis (a)22.9+1.0
−1.1
AU
Eccentricity (e)0.562+0.012
−0.012
Inclination (i)68+3.6
−3.4
°
Longitude of the node (Ω)60+3
−3
°
Periastron epoch (T)2468401+432
−385
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
286+2.3
−2.3
°
Details
56 UMa A
Mass4.3±0.2 M
Radius21.16±0.86 R
Surface gravity (log g)2.30 cgs
Temperature4,917±34 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]0.05 dex
56 UMa B
Mass1.31+0.11
−0.12
 M
Other designations
BD+44°2083, FK5 2908, HD 98839, HIP 55560, HR 4392, SAO 43719
Database references
SIMBADdata

56 Ursae Majoris (56 UMa) is a binary star in the constellation Ursa Major. At an apparent magnitude of 5.03, it is a faint star but visible to the naked eye depending on factors such as light pollution and eyesight. Parallax measurements derive a distance of 555 light-years.

It is a single-lined spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of about 45 years. The primary is an evolved giant star with a spectral class G7IIIBa0.3, a Barium star. The companion star is likely a heavy neutron star born by a supernova that exploded around 100,000 years ago.