WW Aurigae

WW Aurigae

A light curve for WW Aurigae, plotted from Hiparcos data
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Auriga
Right ascension 06h 32m 27.18477s
Declination +32° 27 17.6324
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.82
Characteristics
Spectral type A4m + A5m
B−V color index 0.188±0.007
Variable type EA
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−8.7±0.9 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −26.3507 mas/yr
Dec.: −17.343 mas/yr
Parallax (π)11.1431±0.0691 mas
Distance293 ± 2 ly
(89.7 ± 0.6 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)1.29
Orbit
Period (P)2.525 d
Eccentricity (e)0.00
Periastron epoch (T)2,432,945.539±1.0 JD
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
0.00°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
115.6 km/s
Semi-amplitude (K2)
(secondary)
127.7 km/s
Details
WW Aur A
Mass1.964±0.007 M
Radius1.980±0.009 R
Luminosity13.5 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.160±0.007 cgs
Temperature8,350±200 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)35±10 km/s
Age565±15 Myr
WW Aur B
Mass1.814±0.007 M
Radius1.807±0.009 R
Luminosity10.5 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.165±0.007 cgs
Temperature8,170±300 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)55±10 km/s
Other designations
WW Aur, BD+32°1324, FK5 2500, HD 46052, HIP 31173, HR 2372, SAO 59194
Database references
SIMBADdata

WW Aurigae is an eclipsing binary star system in the northern constellation of Auriga. It has a combined maximum apparent visual magnitude of 5.86, which is bright enough to be dimly visible to the naked eye. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 11.1 mas, it is located 293 light years from the Earth. The system is moving further away with a heliocentric radial velocity of −9 km/s, having come to within 212.5 ly some 3.12 million years ago.

This is a double-lined spectroscopic binary system, having a circular orbit with a period of 2.5 days. It was discovered to be variable independently by Friedrich Schwab and Heinrich Van Solowiew in 1918. It was given its variable star designation in 1919. Both components are metallic-lined, or Am stars, with a spectrum showing a deficiency of calcium and scandium, and an overabundance of heavier elements. Together they form an EA, or Algol-type, eclipsing binary with the primary occultation reducing the net magnitude to a minimum of 6.54 and the secondary eclipse lowering it to 6.43, over a cycle time of 2.52501936 days.