9 lines
1.1 KiB
Markdown
9 lines
1.1 KiB
Markdown
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name: Spika (α Virginis)
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constellation: Vir
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created_by: editor.cs
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created_date: 2023-11-05 16:40:02.623264
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updated_by: editor.cs
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updated_date: 2023-11-05 16:40:02.623269
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The brightest star of the constellation, reaching a magnitude of 1. This purely white, bright star can be used for orientation in the spring sky, as it forms the so-called spring triangle along with the stars Regulus in Leo and Arcturus in Bootes, a kind of counterpart to the better-known summer triangle. It is located on the extended line connecting the upper right and lower left wheels of the Big Dipper. It is about 250 light-years away and exceeds the brightness of the Sun by a factor of 2,800. It is a very close spectroscopic binary star (an eclipsing variable star) with a period of 4.014 days. During this period, there is a regular slight partial eclipse, about one-tenth of the brightness, which is not visually perceptible. The main star of this pair also exhibits weak pulsation with a period of 0.174 days. Spica has a surface temperature of nearly 20,000 ˚C and shines with the power of more than a thousand Suns. |