OU Andromedae (also HR 9024) is a rotationally variable star in the constellation Andromeda. Varying between magnitudes 5.87 and 5.94, it has been classified as an FK Comae Berenices variable, but the classification is still uncertain. It has a spectral classification of G1IIIe, meaning that it is a giant star that shows emission lines in its spectrum.[3] It is also likely in its horizontal branch phase of evolution.[7]
 The light curve of an X-ray flare observed in 2001 by the Chandra X-ray Observatory is shown. This flare is believed to have been produced by a coronal mass ejection. (Adapted from Argiroffi et al., 2019[1]) | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Andromeda |
| Right ascension | 23h 49m 40.9598s[2] |
| Declination | +36° 25′ 31.0082″[2] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 5.87 - 5.94[3] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | G1 IIIe[4] |
| Apparent magnitude (G) | 5.6187[2] |
| Apparent magnitude (J) | 4.723[5] |
| Apparent magnitude (H) | 4.208[5] |
| Apparent magnitude (K) | 4.097[5] |
| B−V color index | 0.79[4] |
| Variable type | FK Com[3] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | −1.89±0.25[2] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −0.858±0.094[2] mas/yr Dec.: −47.402±0.078[2] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 7.1692 ± 0.0677 mas[2] |
| Distance | 455 ± 4 ly (139 ± 1 pc) |
| Details[6] | |
| Mass | 2.85 M☉ |
| Radius | 9.46 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 71.2 L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 2.8 cgs |
| Temperature | 5,360 K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | −0.07 dex |
| Rotation | 24.3 days |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 21.5 km/s |
| Age | 645 – 891[7] Myr |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
In 1985, Jeffrey Hopkins et al. discovered that HR 9024 is a variable star, with a period of ~23.3 days.[8] It was given the variable star designation OU Andromedae in 1986.[9] Paola Testa et al. reported that the star showed X-ray flare activity, in 2007.[10]
Fast rotation
editThe spin rate of OU Andromedae is unusually high for an evolved star of this type, showing a projected rotational velocity of 21.5 km/s. One possible explanation is that it may have engulfed a nearby giant planet, such as a hot Jupiter, since an infrared excess has been observed.[4] Another explanation relies on its strong magnetic field; if OU Andromedae was an Ap star during its main sequence stage of evolution, it could have retained both the strong magnetic field and the fast rotation of Ap stars.[6]
X-ray source
editOU Andromedae is a bright X-ray source, due to the activity of its corona; it's estimated that solar-like active regions cover 30% of the surface. This is another effect of the strong magnetic field, which produces an uninterrupted flaring activity that generates a large volume of hot plasma at coronal temperatures (~7.5×106 K).[11]
References
edit- ^ Argiroffi, C.; Reale, F.; Drake, J. J.; Ciaravella, A.; Testa, P.; Bonito, R.; Miceli, M.; Orlando, S.; Peres, G. (August 2019). "A stellar flare-coronal mass ejection event revealed by X-ray plasma motions". Nature Astronomy. 3: 742–748. arXiv:1905.11325. doi:10.1038/s41550-019-0781-4. S2CID 256704200.
- ^ a b c d e f g Brown, A. G. A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (August 2018). "Gaia Data Release 2: Summary of the contents and survey properties". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 616. A1. arXiv:1804.09365. Bibcode:2018A&A...616A...1G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201833051. Gaia DR2 record for this source at VizieR.
- ^ a b c N. N. Samus; O. V. Durlevich; et al. "OU And database entry". Combined General Catalog of Variable Stars (2017 ed.). CDS. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
- ^ a b c Rodrigues da Silva, R.; et al. (March 2015). "On the Nature of Rapidly Rotating Single Evolved Stars". The Astrophysical Journal. 801 (1): 6. arXiv:1503.03447. Bibcode:2015ApJ...801...54R. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/801/1/54. S2CID 119271718. 54.
- ^ a b c Cutri, Roc M.; Skrutskie, Michael F.; Van Dyk, Schuyler D.; Beichman, Charles A.; Carpenter, John M.; Chester, Thomas; Cambresy, Laurent; Evans, Tracey E.; Fowler, John W.; Gizis, John E.; Howard, Elizabeth V.; Huchra, John P.; Jarrett, Thomas H.; Kopan, Eugene L.; Kirkpatrick, J. Davy; Light, Robert M.; Marsh, Kenneth A.; McCallon, Howard L.; Schneider, Stephen E.; Stiening, Rae; Sykes, Matthew J.; Weinberg, Martin D.; Wheaton, William A.; Wheelock, Sherry L.; Zacarias, N. (2003). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: 2MASS All-Sky Catalog of Point Sources (Cutri+ 2003)". CDS/ADC Collection of Electronic Catalogues. 2246: II/246. Bibcode:2003yCat.2246....0C.
- ^ a b Borisova, A.; Aurière, M.; Petit, P.; Konstantinova-Antova, R.; Charbonnel, C.; Drake, N. A. (June 2016). "The different origins of magnetic fields and activity in the Hertzsprung gap stars, OU Andromedae and 31 Comae". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 591: 15. arXiv:1604.07647. Bibcode:2016A&A...591A..57B. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201526726. S2CID 55676875. A57.
- ^ a b Stock, S.; Reffert, S.; Quirrenbach, A. (August 2018). "Precise radial velocities of giant stars. X. Bayesian stellar parameters and evolutionary stages for 372 giant stars from the Lick planet search". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 616: 15. arXiv:1805.04094. Bibcode:2018A&A...616A..33S. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201833111. S2CID 119361866. A33.
- ^ Hopkins, J. L.; Boyd, L. J.; Genet, R. M.; Hall, D. S. (March 1985). "Discovery of Variability in HR 9024" (PDF). Information Bulletin on Variable Stars. 2684: 1. Bibcode:1985IBVS.2684....1H. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ Kholopov, P. N.; Samus, N. N.; Kazarovets, E. V.; Kireeva, N. N. (August 1987). "The 68th Name-List of Variable Stars" (PDF). Information Bulletin on Variable Stars. 3058: 1. Bibcode:1987IBVS.3058....1K. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ Testa, Paola; Reale, Fabio; Garcia-Alvarez, David; Huenemoerder, David P. (July 2007). "Detailed Diagnostics of an X-Ray Flare in the Single Giant HR 9024". The Astrophysical Journal. 663 (2): 1232–1243. arXiv:astro-ph/0703422. Bibcode:2007ApJ...663.1232T. doi:10.1086/518241. S2CID 17916110. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
- ^ Gondoin, P. (October 2003), "The corona of HD 223460 (HR 9024)", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 409: 263–274, Bibcode:2003A&A...409..263G, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20030978