Zeta Leonis ( ζ Leonis, abbreviated Zeta Leo, ζ Leo), also named Adhafera ,[
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Nomenclature
ζ Leonis (Latinised to Zeta Leonis) is the star's Bayer designation. It has the traditional name Adhafera ( Aldhafera, Adhafara), which comes from the Arabic الضفيرة aḍ-ḍafīrah 'the braid/curl', a reference to its position in the lion's mane. In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)
Properties
Adhafera is a giant star with a stellar classification of F0 III. Since 1943, the stellar spectrum of this star has served as one of the stable anchor points by which other stars are classified.[ Its apparent magnitude is +3.44, making it relatively faint for a star that is visible to the naked eye. Nevertheless, it shines with 220 times the luminosity of the Sun.][ Adhafera has about three times the Sun's mass][ Parallax measurements from the Hipparcos satellite yield an estimated distance to Adhafera of ][ from the Sun.
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Adhafera forms a double star with an optical companion that has an apparent magnitude of 5.90. Known as 35 Leonis, this star is separated from Adhafera by 325.9 arcseconds along a position angle of 340°.
