38 Virginis is an F-type main sequence star in the constellation of Virgo. It is around 108 light years distant from the Earth.[2][1]

38 Virginis
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Virgo
Right ascension 12h 53m 11.1564s[1]
Declination −03° 33′ 11.1482″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 6.11
Characteristics
Spectral type F6V[2]
B−V color index 0.49[2]
Astrometry
Proper motion (μ) RA: −262.638±0.113[1] mas/yr
Dec.: −3.853±0.100[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)30.0702 ± 0.0541 mas[1]
Distance108.5 ± 0.2 ly
(33.26 ± 0.06 pc)
Details
Mass1.18 ± 0.12[2] M
Radius1.45 ± 0.07[2] R
Luminosity3.48[note 1] L
Temperature6557 ± 96[2] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]0.07[2] dex
Age1.9+0.6
−0.7
[2] Gyr
Other designations
BD−02 3593, HD 111998, HIP 62875, HR 4891, WDS J12532-0333AB[3]
Database references
SIMBADdata

Nomenclature

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The name 38 Virginis derives from the star being the 38th star in order of right ascension catalogued in the constellation Virgo by Flamsteed in his star catalogue. The designation b of 38 Virginis b derives from the order of discovery and is given to the first planet orbiting a given star, followed by the other lowercase letters of the alphabet.[4] In the case of 38 Virginis, only one was discovered, which was designated b.[2]

Stellar characteristics

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38 Virginis is an F-type main sequence star that is approximately 118% the mass of and 145% the radius of the Sun. It has a temperature of 6557 K and is about 1.9 billion years old. In comparison, the Sun is about 4.6 billion years old[5] and has a temperature of 5778 K.[6]

The star is metal-rich, with a metallicity ([Fe/H]) of 0.07 dex, or 117% the solar amount. Its luminosity (L) is 3.48 times that of the Sun.

A companion star is cataloged in the CCDM at a separation of half an arcsecond.[7]

Planetary system

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The 38 Virginis planetary system[2]
Companion
(in order from star)
Mass Semimajor axis
(AU)
Orbital period
(days)
Eccentricity Inclination Radius
b 4.51 ± 0.5 MJ 1.82 ± 0.07 825.9 ± 6.2 0.03 ± 0.04

The star is known to host one exoplanet, 38 Virginis b, discovered in 2016. This planet has a relatively low eccentricity out of any long-period giant exoplanet discovered, with an eccentricity of 0.03. The planet has a mass of around 4.5 times that of the planet Jupiter.[2] Its orbit very likely puts it and any moons it may have in the habitable zone of its star.[8]

Notes

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  1. ^ From  , where   is the luminosity,   is the radius,   is the effective surface temperature and   is the Stefan–Boltzmann constant.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Brown, A. G. A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (August 2018). "Gaia Data Release 2: Summary of the contents and survey properties". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 616. A1. arXiv:1804.09365. Bibcode:2018A&A...616A...1G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201833051. Gaia DR2 record for this source at VizieR.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Borgniet, S.; et al. (2017). "Extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs around AF-type stars. IX. The HARPS southern sample". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 599. A57. arXiv:1608.08257. Bibcode:2017A&A...599A..57B. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201628805. S2CID 118723455.
  3. ^ "38 Virginis". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  4. ^ Hessman, F. V.; Dhillon, V. S.; Winget, D. E.; Schreiber, M. R.; Horne, K.; Marsh, T. R.; Guenther, E.; Schwope, A.; Heber, U. (2010). "On the naming convention used for multiple star systems and extrasolar planets". arXiv:1012.0707 [astro-ph.SR].
  5. ^ Fraser Cain (16 September 2008). "How Old is the Sun?". Universe Today. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  6. ^ Fraser Cain (15 September 2008). "Temperature of the Sun". Universe Today. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  7. ^ J. Dommanget; et al. (February 2002), Catalog of Components of Double & Multiple Stars, Observations et Travaux, Societe Astronomique de France
  8. ^ Cowing, Keith (2024-09-20). "The Habitability Of F-Type Star Systems". Astrobiology. Retrieved 2024-09-21.