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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Eta Ursae Majoris
Alkaid /ælˈkeɪd/, also called Eta Ursae Majoris (Latinised from η Ursae Majoris, abbreviated Eta UMa, η UMa), is a star in the constellation of Ursa Major. It is the most eastern (leftmost) star in the Big Dipper (or Plough) asterism. However, unlike most stars of the Big Dipper, it is not a member of the Ursa Major moving group. With an apparent visual magnitude of +1.86, it is the third-brightest star in the constellation and one of the brightest stars in the night sky.

Physical properties

Comparison of Alkaid and the Sun

Alkaid is a 10-million-year-old B-type main sequence star with a stellar classification of B3 V. Since 1943, the spectrum of this star has served as one of the stable anchor points by which other stars are classified. It has six times the mass; 3.4 times the radius, and is radiating around 594 times as much energy as the Sun. Its outer atmosphere has an effective temperature of about 15,540 K, giving it the blue-white hue of a B-type star. This star is an X-ray emitter with a luminosity of 9.3 × 10 erg s.

Eta Ursae Majoris was listed as a standard star for the spectral type B3 V. It has broadened absorption lines due to its rapid rotation, which is common in stars of this type. However, the lines are very slightly distorted and variable, which may be caused by some emission from a weak disk of material produced by the rapid rotation.

Alkaid is a relatively nearby and bright star and has been examined closely, but no exoplanets or companion stars have been discovered.

Nomenclature

η Ursae Majoris (Latinised to Eta Ursae Majoris) is the star's Bayer designation. The International Astronomical Union has formally chosen the proper name Alkaid for this star.

It bore the traditional names Alkaid (or Elkeid from the Arabic القايد القائد) and Benetnasch /ˈbɛnɛtnæʃ/. Alkaid derives from the Arabic phrase meaning "The leader of the daughters of the bier" (قائد بنات نعش qā'id bināt naʿsh). The daughters of the bier, i.e. the mourning maidens, are the three stars of the handle of the Big Dipper, Alkaid, Mizar, and Alioth; while the four stars of the bowl, Megrez, Phecda, Merak, and Dubhe, are the bier.

It is known as Běidǒuqī (北斗七 - the Seventh Star of the Northern Dipper) or Yáoguāng (瑤光 - the Star of Twinkling Brilliance) in Chinese.

The Hindus knew this star as Marīci, one of the Seven Rishis.

In Japan and Korea, Alkaid is known as Hagunsei and Mukokseong respectively ("the military breaking star" or "most corner star"). Both meanings come from ancient China's influence in both countries.

In culture

USS Alkaid (AK-114) was a United States Navy Crater class cargo ship named after the star.

Alkaid is one of the Behenian fixed stars, used in Alchemy.

The fossil starfish Alkaidia is named after Alkaid.

References

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  13. ^ Garrison, R. F. (December 1993). "Anchor Points for the MK System of Spectral Classification". Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society. 25: 1319. Bibcode:1993AAS...183.1710G. Archived from the original on 2019-06-25. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
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  22. ^ "Alkaid (AK-114)". Naval History and Heritage Command. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  23. ^ Blake, Daniel B.; Reid, Robert (1998). "Some Albian (Cretaceous) asteroids (Echinodermata) from Texas and their paleobiological implications". Journal of Paleontology. 72 (3): 512–532. Bibcode:1998JPal...72..512B. doi:10.1017/S002233600002429X. ISSN 0022-3360.
  • Alkaid at Jim Kaler's Stars website
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