Gamma Lyrae, Latinised from γ Lyrae, and formally named Sulafat ,[ it is readily visible to the naked eye. Parallax measurements yield an estimated distance of from the Sun. At that distance, the visual magnitude of the star is diminished by an extinction factor of due to interstellar dust.][
]
Nomenclature
γ Lyrae (Latinised to Gamma Lyrae) is the star's Bayer designation.
It bore the traditional names Sulafat ( Sulaphat), from the Arabic السلحفاة al-sulḥafāt "turtle", and Jugum,[ from the Latin iugum "yoke". The connection with turtles is that fine were traditionally made of tortoiseshell. In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)]
In Chinese astronomy, 漸台 (Jiāntāi), meaning Clepsydra Terrace, refers to an asterism consisting of this star, Delta2 Lyrae, Beta Lyrae and Iota Lyrae.[ AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 3 日 ] Consequently, the Chinese name for Gamma Lyrae itself is 漸台三 (Jiāntāisān, ).
Properties
This is a giant star with a stellar classification of B9 III,[ indicating it has exhausted the supply of hydrogen at its core and evolved away from the main sequence. The effective temperature of the outer envelope of this star is ,][ giving it the blue-white hue typical of a B-type star.][ The interferometry-measured angular diameter of this star is , which, at its estimated distance, equates to a physical radius of roughly 15 times the radius of the Sun.][
]
In 1909, Canadian astronomer Samuel A. Mitchell identified this star as a spectroscopic binary, although he was unable to split the of the components. He found that a period of 25.6 days matched his measurements.[ It was reported as a spectroscopic binary as recently as 2001,][ but is now believed to be a single star][ with a high rate of rotation for stars of this type.][
]
External links
