Double Star Mu Herculis

Description:

Mu Herculis A is the bright star in the center of the field. Its spectral class is G5, meaning that it is very close in size and luminosity to our Sun (G2). It forms a binary star with the reddish star immediately above it (Mu Herculis B), with a measured separation of 286 astronomical units or about 3.5 times the diameter of Pluto's orbit.

 Mu Herculis B is a red dwarf star (spectral class M3), and itself is a close double star with a separation of 11 astronomical units. Recent observations suggest that Mu Herculis A may itself be a close double, in which case this is a quadruple star system. The system is 27 light years from Earth, as measured by trigonometric parallax.

Image Name:

Double Star Mu Herculis

Date Taken:

April 13, 2010

Location Taken:

Conditions of Location:

FWHM 2.1

Equipment Used:

14.5" Ritchey-Chretien telescope, SBIG STL11000 CCD camera, Astrodon RGB filters, TCC, PIR, remote guide head used with Takahashi Sky90 for autoguiding, T-Point used for polar alignment (required for each imaging session due to my portable setup).

Processing Used:

Distance from Location:

27 light years

Constellation:

Hercules

Other Link:

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