Zeta Corvi

Zeta Corvi
Location of ζ Corvi (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox ICRS
Constellation Corvus
Right ascension 12h 20m 33.642s
Declination −22° 12′ 57.242″
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.21
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage main sequence
Spectral type B8V
U−B color index −0.39
B−V color index −0.090±0.004
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−6.40±4.2 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −108.879 mas/yr
Dec.: −27.661 mas/yr
Parallax (π)8.4789±0.0886 mas
Distance385 ± 4 ly
(118 ± 1 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−0.32
Details
Mass3.39±0.04 M☉
Radius4.57±0.09 R☉
Luminosity200 L☉
Surface gravity (log g)2.26±0.02 cgs
Temperature11,561 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)259 km/s
Age232±30 Myr
Other designations
ζ Crv, 5 Crv, BD−21°3514, HD 107348, HIP 60189, HR 4696, SAO 180700
Database references
SIMBADdata

Zeta Corvi is a blue-white hued star or star system in the southern constellation of Corvus. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from ζ Corvi, and abbreviated Zeta Crv or ζ Crv. This star is visible to the naked eye with an apparent magnitude 5.21. Based on parallax measurements, it is located 385 light-years (118 pc) distant from the Sun, but it is drifting closer with a line of sight velocity component of −6 km/s.

This is a B-type main-sequence star with a stellar classification of B8V. It has 3.4 times the mass and 4.6 times the radius of the Sun. This star is radiating approximately 154 times that of the Sun with an effective temperature of 10,695 K. It is a Be star, with the presence of hydrogen emission lines in its spectrum indicating it has a circumstellar disk of decreated material. The star is spinning rapidly with a projected rotational velocity of 259 km/s.

Zeta Corvi is separated by 7 arcminutes from the 6th magnitude star HR 4691. The two may be an optical double or a true multiple star system, with a separation of at least 50,000 astronomical units and the stars taking 3.5 million years to orbit each other. HR 4691 is itself double, composed of an ageing yellow-orange giant whose spectral type has been calculated at K0 or G3, and an F-type main-sequence star.

In Chinese astronomy, this star is named Changsha (simplified Chinese: 长沙; traditional Chinese: 長沙). This was translated by R. H. Allen as "a Long Sand-bank", but according to Ian Ridpath it represents a coffin. Changsha is the capital of Hunan province in China.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Anderson, E.; Francis, Ch. (2012). "XHIP: An extended hipparcos compilation". Astronomy Letters. 38 (5): 331. arXiv:1108.4971. Bibcode:2012AstL...38..331A. doi:10.1134/S1063773712050015. XHIP record for this object at VizieR.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Vallenari, A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (2023), "Gaia Data Release 3. Summary of the content and survey properties", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 674: A1, arXiv:2208.00211, Bibcode:2023A&A...674A...1G, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202243940, S2CID 244398875. Gaia DR3 record for this source at VizieR.
  3. 1 2 Ducati, J. R. (2002). Catalogue of Stellar Photometry in Johnson's 11-color system. Vizier Online Data Catalog. Vol. 2237. Bibcode:2002yCat.2237....0D.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Zorec, J.; et al. (2012). "Rotational velocities of A-type stars. IV. Evolution of rotational velocities". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 537: A120. arXiv:1201.2052. Bibcode:2012A&A...537A.120Z. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201117691. S2CID 55586789.
  5. 1 2 Strom, Stephen E.; et al. (2005). "B Star Rotational Velocities in h and χ Persei: A Probe of Initial Conditions during the Star Formation Epoch?". The Astronomical Journal. 129 (2): 809–828. arXiv:astro-ph/0410337. Bibcode:2005AJ....129..809S. doi:10.1086/426748. S2CID 15059129.
  6. ↑ Mermilliod, J.-C. (1986). Compilation of Eggen's UBV data, transformed to UBV (unpublished). Bibcode:1986EgUBV........0M.
  7. 1 2 Gontcharov, G. A. (2006). "Pulkovo Compilation of Radial Velocities for 35 495 Hipparcos stars in a common system". Astronomy Letters. 32 (11): 759. arXiv:1606.08053. Bibcode:2006AstL...32..759G. doi:10.1134/S1063773706110065.
  8. 1 2 3 Arcos, C.; et al. (2018). "Stellar parameters and H α line profile variability of be stars in the BeSOS survey". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 474 (4): 5287. arXiv:1711.08675. Bibcode:2018MNRAS.474.5287A. doi:10.1093/mnras/stx3075.
  9. ↑ "zet Crv", SIMBAD, Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg, retrieved 2024-01-28.
  10. ↑ McDonald, I.; et al. (2012). "Fundamental Parameters and Infrared Excesses of Hipparcos Stars". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 427 (1): 343–57. arXiv:1208.2037. Bibcode:2012MNRAS.427..343M. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.21873.x. S2CID 118665352.
  11. ↑ "HD 107295", SIMBAD, Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg, retrieved 2024-01-28.
  12. ↑ Kaler, James B. (Jim) (April 26, 2013). "Zeta Corvi". Stars. University of Illinois. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  13. ↑ Allen, R. H. (1963) [1899]. "Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning" (Dover ed.). p. 182. Retrieved 2026-07-30.
  14. ↑ Ridpath, Ian. "Star Tales - Corvus and Crater". Retrieved 3 July 2025.