Mizar

Mizar
Location of Mizar (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Ursa Major
Mizar
Right ascension 13h 23m 55.54048s
Declination +54° 55 31.2671
Apparent magnitude (V) 2.04
ζ1 UMa
Right ascension 13h 23m 55.543s
Declination +54° 55 31.30
Apparent magnitude (V) 2.23
ζ2 UMa
Right ascension 13h 23m 56.330s
Declination +54° 55 18.56
Apparent magnitude (V) 3.88
Characteristics
ζ1 UMa
Spectral type A2Vp/A2Vp
U−B color index 0.01
B−V color index +0.02
ζ2 UMa
Spectral type kA1h(eA)mA7IV-V
U−B color index +0.09
B−V color index +0.13
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−6.31 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: 119.01 mas/yr
Dec.: −25.97 mas/yr
Parallax (π)39.36±0.30 mas
Distance82.9 ± 0.6 ly
(25.4 ± 0.2 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+0.32/+1.96
Orbit
PrimaryMizar Aa
CompanionMizar Ab
Period (P)20.5386 days
Semi-major axis (a)9.83±0.03 mas
Eccentricity (e)0.5415±0.0016
Inclination (i)60.5±0.3°
Longitude of the node (Ω)106.0±0.4°
Periastron epoch (T)RJD 54536.9904
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
105.27±0.23°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
66.478±0.153 km/s
Semi-amplitude (K2)
(secondary)
66.019±0.177 km/s
Orbit
PrimaryMizar Ba
CompanionMizar Bb
Period (P)175.55 d
Semi-major axis (a)29.849 mas
Eccentricity (e)0.46
Details
Aa
Mass2.2224±0.0221 M
Radius2.4±0.1 R
Luminosity33.3±2.1 L
Temperature9,000±200 K
Age370 Myr
Ab
Mass2.2381±0.0219 M
Radius2.4±0.1 R
Luminosity33.3±2.1 L
Temperature9,000±200 K
Ba
Mass1.85 M
Radius1.8 R
Luminosity13.7 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.40 cgs
Temperature8,280 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)61 km/s
Bb
Mass0.25 M
Other designations
ζ Ursae Majoris, ζ UMa, Zeta UMa, 79 Ursae Majoris, BD+55 1598, CCDM J13240+5456, HIP 65378, WDS J13239+5456
ζ1 UMa: ζ UMa A, GC 18133, HD 116656, HR 5054, PPM 34007, SAO 28737
ζ2 UMa: ζ UMa B, GC 18134, HD 116657, HR 5055, SAO 28738
Database references
SIMBADMizar
ζ1 UMa
ζ2 UMa

Mizar /ˈmzɑːr/ is a second-magnitude star in the handle of the Big Dipper asterism in the constellation of Ursa Major. It has the Bayer designation ζ Ursae Majoris (Latinised as Zeta Ursae Majoris). It forms a well-known naked eye double star with the fainter star Alcor (a binary system consisting of Alcor A and Alcor B), and is itself a quadruple star system. The Mizar and Alcor system lies about 83 light-years away from the Sun, as measured by the Hipparcos astrometry satellite, and is part of the Ursa Major Moving Group.