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Information About

Cor Caroli




  Epoch J20000
  Constell Canes Venatici
  Ra 12<sup>h</sup>56<sup>m</sup>017<sup>s</sup>
  Dec +38°19′06″
  Spectral F0V/A0pSiEuHg
  Appmag V +289/+561
  Dist Ly 110 ± 4
  Dist Pc 34 ± 1
  Names Cor Caroli, Asterion, 12&nbspCanum Venaticorum, HR &nbsp4914/4915, HD &nbsp112412/112413, BD +39°2580, FK5 &nbsp485, HIP &nbsp63121/63125, SAO &nbsp63256/63257, GC&nbsp17556/17557, ADS &nbsp8706, CCDM&nbsp12560+3819


Cor Caroli (α CVn / α Canum Venaticorum / Alpha Canum Venaticorum) is the brightest Star in the northern Constellation Canes Venatici . The name ''Cor Caroli'' means ''Charles' heart'', and was named most likely by Edmond Halley in honour of either Charles I , who was executed or Charles II Of England , his son, who was restored to the throne after the Interregnum following his father's death.

Cor Caroli is a Binary Star which has a combined Apparent Magnitude of +2.89. The two stars are 19.6 Arcsecond s apart on the sky and are easily resolved in small telescopes. It is approximately 110 Light Year s from Earth .

The main star, α&2 Canum Venaticorum, is the prototype of a class of Variable Star s, the so-called α&2 Canum Venaticorum Star s. These stars have a strong Magnetic Field , which is believed to produce starspots of enormous extent. Due to these starspots the brightness of α&2 Canum Venaticorum stars varies considerably during their rotation.

The brightness of α&2 Canum Venaticorum varies between +2.84 Magnitude and +2.94 with a period of 5.47 days. Its Spectral Type is A0. The companion, α¹ Canum Venaticorum, of spectral type F0, is considerably fainter at +5.5 magnitude.

Cor Caroli marks the northern vertex of the Diamond Of Virgo Asterism .