| Gamma Crucis |
Article Index for Gamma |
Website Links For Gamma |
Information AboutGamma Crucis |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT GAMMA CRUCIS | |
| bayer objects | |
| crucis, gamma | |
| binary stars | |
| crux constellation | |
| red giants | |
| white main sequence stars | |
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name=Gamma Crucis }}
Gacrux (γ Cru / γ Crucis / Gamma Crucis) is the third brightest star in Constellation Crux (the Southern Cross) and One Of The Brightest Stars in the nighttime sky. Since Gamma Crucis is at roughly −60° Declination , it is only visible south of the Tropic Of Cancer and therefore didn't receive an ancient traditional name; "Gacrux" is simply a combination of the "Ga" in Gamma plus Crux. Gamma Crucis is a Binary Star , 88 Light Year s distant from Earth. The main star possesses an Apparent Magnitude of +1.6 and belongs to the Spectral Classification M4 III. The +6.4 magnitude companion star (spectral classification A3) is in an angle of 25" with a position angle of 128 degrees of the main star, and can be observed with Binoculars . This star has evolved out of the Main Sequence to become a Red Giant star, and may be passing out of the Helium -burning stage. It is also semi-variable with a period of about 90 days. The atmosphere is contaminated with Barium , which are likely due to neutron emission from a companion that has since become an unseen White Dwarf . EXTERNAL LINKS |
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