Kappa Centauri (κ Cen, κ Centauri) is a binary star in the southern constellation of Centaurus. With an apparent visual magnitude of +3.14,[
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Characteristics
This is a spectroscopic binary system where the presence of an orbiting companion is revealed by shifts in the caused by the Doppler effect. They take 58 years to complete an orbit, have a small eccentricity of 0.304, and are seen orbiting nearly edge-on.[
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The primary component has about 8.4 times the Sun's mass[ and four times the Sun's radius.][ It has a stellar classification of B2V,][ indicating that it is in the main sequence stage of its stellar evolution. An effective temperature of ][ in the outer envelope is what gives it the blue-white hue of a B-type star.][ It is a candidate Beta Cephei variable that shows line-profile variations in its stellar spectrum. However, the nature of the variability remains uncertain because of the binary nature of the system.][
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The secondary is also a B-type main-sequence star, of spectral class B3V. It has 4.4 times the Sun's mass and an effective temperature of .[
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This system is a proper motion member of the Upper Centaurus–Lupus sub-group in the Scorpius–Centaurus OB association, the nearest such co-moving association of massive stars to the Sun.[
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In Chinese astronomy
In Chinese, 騎官 (Qí Guān), meaning Imperial Guards, refers to an asterism consisting of κ Centauri, Gamma Lupi, Delta Lupi, Beta Lupi, Lambda Lupi, Epsilon Lupi, Mu Lupi, Pi Lupi, Omicron Lupi and Alpha Lupi.[ 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, the Chinese name for κ Centauri itself is 騎官三 (Qí Guān sān, .).[ AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 25 日 ] From this Chinese name, the name Ke Kwan has appeared.[ Richard Hinckley Allen: Star Names — Their Lore and Meaning: Centaurus]
See also
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Traditional Chinese star names
