Nu2 Boötis

Nu2 Boötis

ν1 (right) and ν2 (left) Boötis in optical light
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Boötes
Right ascension 15h 31m 46.983s
Declination +40° 53 57.61
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.02 (5.80 + 5.80)
Characteristics
Spectral type A5 V
U−B color index +0.11
B−V color index +0.07
R−I color index 0.04
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−16.6±3.7 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −22.887 mas/yr
Dec.: −12.041 mas/yr
Parallax (π)7.3894±0.1816 mas
Distance440 ± 10 ly
(135 ± 3 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−0.59
Orbit
Period (P)9.026±0.017 yr
Semi-major axis (a)0.0615±0.0007
Eccentricity (e)0.006±0.015
Inclination (i)109.7±1.2°
Longitude of the node (Ω)199.4±0.9°
Periastron epoch (T)2000.75±0.24
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
293±9°
Details
Mass2.84±0.11 M
Radius6.21+1.07
−0.81
 R
Luminosity135±3 L
Temperature7894+574
−600
 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)217 km/s
Other designations
ν2 Boo, ψ Her, 53 Boötis, BD+41°2611, GC 20883, HD 138629, HIP 76041, HR 5774, SAO 45590, ADS 9688, CCDM 15318+4054, WDS J15318+4054AB
Database references
SIMBADdata
Data sources:
Hipparcos Catalogue,
CCDM (2002),
Bright Star Catalogue (5th rev. ed.)

Nu2 Boötis is a white-hued binary star system in the northern constellation of Boötes. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from ν2 Boötis, and abbreviated Nu2 Boo or ν2 Boo. This system is faintly visible to the naked eye as a point of light with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 5.02. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 7.86 mas as seen from the Earth, it is located approximately 441 light-years (135 pc)  light years from the Sun. The system is moving closer to the Sun with a radial velocity of −16.6 km/s.

This stellar pair have a nearly circular orbit with a period of nine years and a semimajor axis of 0.0615 arc seconds. They are both of visual magnitude 5.80 and display a similar spectrum, with the primary, component A, being an A-type main sequence star with a stellar classification of A5 V. This has been identified as an A-type shell star, suggesting there is a circumstellar disk of gas orbiting one or both stars. There are two other stars that appear close to the pair, termed C and D, but they are physically unrelated.

Ptolemy considered Nu Boötis to be shared by Hercules, and Bayer assigned it a designation in both constellations: Nu Boötis (ν Boo) and Psi Herculis (ψ Her). When the modern constellation boundaries were fixed in 1930, the latter designation dropped from use.