Zeta Apodis Explained

Zeta Apodis, Latinized from ζ Apodis, is the Bayer designation for a star in the southern constellation of Apus. It has an apparent visual magnitude of +4.78, which is bright enough to allow it to be seen with the naked eye. The distance to this star is known from parallax measurements to be around 293abbr=offNaNabbr=off.

The spectrum of Zeta Apodis matches a stellar classification of K2 III, with the luminosity class of III indicating it is an evolved giant star. Zeta Apodis has expanded to 18 times the size of the Sun irradiates with 126 times the luminosity of the Sun. The outer atmosphere has an effective temperature of 4,486 K, which gives it the orange-hued glow of a K-type star.

Naming

In Chinese caused by adaptation of the European southern hemisphere constellations into the Chinese system, Chinese: 異雀 (Chinese: Yì Què), meaning Exotic Bird, refers to an asterism consisting of ζ Apodis, ι Apodis, β Apodis, γ Apodis, δ Octantis, δ1 Apodis, η Apodis, α Apodis and ε Apodis. Consequently, ζ Apodis itself is known as Chinese: 異雀一 (Chinese: Yì Què yī, English: the First Star of Exotic Bird.)[1]

Notes and References

  1. AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 29 日