| Long
Period Binary Star System
55 Aqr, HR 8558, HD 213051, SAO 146107, PPM 181465, HIP 110960, BD -00 04365, GC 31398, ADS 15971, TYC 05226-1605 1, GSC 05226-1605 Visual Magnitude: 3.6 Distance: 100 ly Minimum requirements to view: unaided eye and suburban sky |
Zeta Aqr is long-period binary star system. The component stars are a closely matched pair, appearing white in color. The magnitudes are 3.6 and 4.6, and they are curently separated by 2.1" (September 1999). They are striking in a 6" telescope, and should be cleanly separated on a night of good seeing.
These stars take nearly 900 years to orbit once. Currently they are separating very slowly.
Above: the pair in a 6" at 270x. North is down, east is right.
The motion of the secondary star relative the the brighter primary for 100 years. North is up and east is left.
| Millennium
Star Atlas Vol III Chart 1283
Sky Atlas 2000 Chart 17 Uranometria 2000 Vol I&II Chart 257 |
