Xi Ursae Majoris

Xi Ursae Majoris

The red circle shows the location of Xi Ursae Majoris in Ursa Major.
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Ursa Major
Pronunciation /æˈllə ɔːˈstrlɪs/
ξ UMa A
Right ascension 11h 18m 10.902s
Declination +31° 31 44.98
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.264
ξ UMa B
Right ascension 11h 18m 10.950s
Declination +31° 31 45.74
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.729
Characteristics
Spectral type F8.5:V / G2V
U−B color index 0.04
B−V color index 0.59
Variable type RS CVn
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−18.2±2.7 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −339.398 mas/yr
Dec.: −607.892 mas/yr
Parallax (π)114.4867±0.4316 mas
Distance28.5 ± 0.1 ly
(8.73 ± 0.03 pc)
ξ UMa Aa
Absolute magnitude (MV)4.66
Absolute bolometric
magnitude
 (Mbol)
4.54±0.06
ξ UMa Ba
Absolute magnitude (MV)5.16
Absolute bolometric
magnitude
 (Mbol)
5.00±0.06
Orbit
Primaryξ UMa A
Companionξ UMa B
Period (P)59.878 yr
Semi-major axis (a)2.536″
Eccentricity (e)0.398
Inclination (i)127.94°
Longitude of the node (Ω)101.85 (ascending)°
Periastron epoch (T)1935.195
Orbit
Primaryξ UMa Aa
Companionξ UMa Ab
Period (P)1.832 yr
Semi-major axis (a)0.057″
Eccentricity (e)0.53
Inclination (i)94.9°
Details
ξ UMa Aa
Mass0.97 M
Radius1.02±0.04 R
Luminosity1.21 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.39±0.10 cgs
Temperature6,005±80 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)1.0±1.0 km/s
ξ UMa Ab
Mass0.38±0.02 M
Radius0.32 R
Temperature~3,700 K
ξ UMa Ba
Mass0.86 M
Radius0.92±0.04 R
Luminosity0.79 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.46±0.10 cgs
Temperature5,692±90 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.35±0.08 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)3.0±1.0 km/s
ξ UMa Bb
Mass0.14+0.05
−0.09
 M
Other designations
Alula Australis, ξ Ursae Majoris, ξ UMa, Xi UMa, 53 Ursae Majoris, BD+32°2132, GC 15537, GJ 423, HIP 55203, SAO 62484, CCDM J11182+3132, WDS J11182+3132
A: HD 98231, HR 4375
B: HD 98230, HR 4374
E: WISE J111838.70+312537.9
Database references
SIMBADξ UMa
ξ UMa AB
ξ UMa A
ξ UMa B
ξ UMa Bb
WISE J1118+3125

Xi Ursae Majoris is a quintuple star system 28.5 light-years (8.7 parsecs) away in the constellation of Ursa Major. It has the traditional name Alula Australis; Xi Ursae Majoris is the Bayer designation, which is Latinised from ξ Ursae Majoris and abbreviated Xi UMa or ξ UMa. It is a variable star with a small amplitude. Xi Ursae Majoris is found in the left hind paw of the Great Bear.

Xi Ursae Majoris is the second-nearest quintuple system, after V1054 Ophiuchi.