LY Aurigae

LY Aurigae

LY Aurigae is the bright star, with the red arrow pointing at it, in the southeast corner of this picture of Messier 38
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Auriga
Right ascension 05h 29m 42.650s
Declination +35° 22 30.09
Apparent magnitude (V) 6.85 (6.66 - 7.35)
Characteristics
Spectral type O9II + O9III + B0.5III
U−B color index −0.78
B−V color index +0.20
Variable type β Lyr
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)5.40 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −0.20±3.19 mas/yr
Dec.: −1.17±2.07 mas/yr
Parallax (π)3.28±2.40 mas
Distance6,800 ly
(2,090 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−5.62 + −5.11 + −4.43
Orbit
PrimaryAa
CompanionAb
Period (P)4.0025 days
Semi-major axis (a)36.1 R
Eccentricity (e)0.0
Inclination (i)87.7°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
161.9 km/s
Semi-amplitude (K2)
(secondary)
294.3 km/s
Orbit
PrimaryBa
CompanionBb
Period (P)20.4642 days
Eccentricity (e)0.246
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
33.0 km/s
Details
Aa
Mass25.5 M
Radius16.1 R
Luminosity214,000 L
Surface gravity (log g)3.425 cgs
Temperature31,000 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)194 km/s
Ab
Mass14.0 M
Radius12.6 R
Luminosity135,000 L
Surface gravity (log g)3.378 cgs
Temperature31,150 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)152 km/s
B
Luminosity47,000 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.00 cgs
Temperature26,000 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)30 km/s
Age5 Myr
Other designations
LY Aurigae, BD+35°1137, HD 35921, SAO 58105, HIP 25733, WDS J05297+3523, AAVSO 0523+35
Database references
SIMBADdata

LY Aurigae is a multiple star system in the constellation Auriga. It is an eclipsing binary variable star, dropping in brightness by 0.7 magnitudes every 4 days. The system is around 6,800 light years away in the Auriga OB1 stellar association.