Kappa Geminorum (κ Geminorum, κ Gem) is a binary star system in the northern zodiac constellation of Gemini. It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.568.[ Based upon an annual stellar parallax of 23.07 milliarcsecond,][ the system is located about 141 distant from the Sun.
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In Chinese astronomy, Kappa Geminorum is called 積薪, Pinyin: Jīxīn, meaning Pile of Firewood, because this star is marking itself and stand alone in Pile of Firewood asterism, Well mansion (see : Chinese constellation).[ AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 16 日 ] 積薪 (Jīxīn) westernized into Tseih Tsing, but the name Tseih Tsing was designated for Chi Geminorum and Mu Cancri by R.H. Allen, with the meaning is "piled-up fuel"[ In Japanese, 隆博星 (Takahiro-boshi), meaning "Esteemed Nobility Star," refers to the Japanese description of κ Geminorum.
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This is a probable astrometric binary[ system with the components having an angular separation of 7.2 along a position angle of 241°, as of 2014.][ The primary is an evolved G-type star giant star with a stellar classification of G9 III.][ Since 1943, the stellar spectrum of this star has served as one of the stable anchor points by which other stars are classified.][ It has double the solar mass,][ but has expanded to 11 times the solar radius. The star radiates around 69 times the solar luminosity from its outer atmosphere at an effective temperature of 5,020 K.][ It shows a leisurely spin with a projected rotational velocity of 3.3 km/s, and is around two billion years old.][ The secondary component is a magnitude 8.2 star.][
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