Beta Gruis ( β Gruis, abbreviated Beta Gru, β Gru), formally named Tiaki ,[
]
Nomenclature
β Gruis (Latinised to Beta Gruis) is the star's Bayer designation.
It bore the traditional Tuamotuan name of Tiaki.
In Chinese language, 鶴 (Hè), meaning Crane, refers to an asterism consisting of Beta Gruis, Alpha Gruis, Epsilon Gruis, Eta Gruis, Delta Tucanae, Zeta Gruis, Iota Gruis, Theta Gruis, Delta² Gruis and Mu¹ Gruis.[ 中國星座神話, written by 陳久金. Published by 台灣書房出版有限公司, 2005, .] Consequently, Beta Gruis itself is known as 鶴二 (Hè èr, ).[ 香港太空館 - 研究資源 - 亮星中英對照表 , Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.] The Chinese name gave rise to another English name, Ke.[ Richard Hinckley Allen: Star Names — Their Lore and Meaning: Grus]
Properties
Beta Gruis is a red giant star[ on the asymptotic giant branch][ with an estimated mass of about 2.4 times that of solar mass][ and a surface temperature of approximately 3,500 Kelvin, just over half the surface temperature of the Sun.][ This low temperature accounts for the dull red color of an M-type star. The total luminosity is about 3,200 times that of Solar luminosity, and it has 150 times the Solar radius.][
]
It is one of the brightest stars at infrared and near-infrared wavelenghts. At the K band, it is the fifth-brightest star in the night sky.
Alan William James Cousins announced that Beta Gruis is a variable star in 1952.[
]
External links
