The variable radial velocity of the brighter component was first observed by H. A. Abt in 1961. It is a double-lined spectroscopic binary system with an orbital period of 27.2days and an eccentricity of 0.74. They have a combined magnitude of 4.71. Both components are similar stars with a combined stellar classification of kA2hA5VmA5, and one or both are Am stars. The fainter component has an 82.8year orbit with the brighter pair at an eccentricity of 0.45, and is itself binary, making the system a quadruple. The system is a source for X-ray emission.
This system forms part of the Upsilon Ophiuchi cluster, a small group of six stars which share similar kinematics and are spread over about eight degrees. The two brightest stars, apart from Upsilon Ophiuchi itself, are sometimes listed as components B and C: B is HD148300, and C is HD144660. Both are 9th-magnitude K-class dwarfs.
Notes
1234Calculated using angular diameters (0.37, 0.33, 0.20 and 0.16 milliarcseconds) and a distance of 39.9 parsecs via the equation R/R☉ = (107.5•𝜃•d)/1000, where 𝜃 is the angular diameter and d is the distance.
12Mallama, A. (2014). "Sloan Magnitudes for the Brightest Stars". The Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers. 42 (2): 443. Bibcode:2014JAVSO..42..443M.Vizier catalog entry
12Gutmann, F. (1965). "A study of the spectroscopic binary 3nu Ophiuchi (HD 148367)". Publications of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory Victoria. 12: 391–399. Bibcode:1965PDAO...12..391G.
↑Hoffleit, D.; Warren, W. H. (1995). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: Bright Star Catalogue, 5th Revised Ed. (Hoffleit+, 1991)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: V/50. Originally Published in: 1964BS....C......0H. 5050. Bibcode:1995yCat.5050....0H.
↑Kharchenko, N. V. (2001). "All-sky compiled catalogue of 2.5 million stars". Kinematika I Fizika Nebesnykh Tel. 17 (5): 409. Bibcode:2001KFNT...17..409K.