Beta Centauri
Overview
Beta Centauri, also known as Hadar or Agena, is a binary star system located in the southern constellation of Centaurus. It is the second brightest star in the constellation and the tenth brightest star in the night sky, with an apparent magnitude of 0.61. The system is approximately 390 light-years away from Earth.
Physical Characteristics
Beta Centauri is a binary star system, composed of two stars, Beta Centauri A and Beta Centauri B. Both stars are blue giants, and they are among the most luminous stars in our galaxy. They have a combined luminosity about 10,000 times that of the Sun. The two stars are so close together that they cannot be resolved with the naked eye, and they appear as a single point of light.
Beta Centauri A is the larger and brighter of the two stars. It has a mass about 12 times that of the Sun and a radius about 8 times larger. Its surface temperature is estimated to be around 26,000 Kelvin, which gives it a blue-white color.
Beta Centauri B is slightly smaller and less luminous than its companion. It has a mass about 10 times that of the Sun and a radius about 7 times larger. Its surface temperature is estimated to be around 25,000 Kelvin.
Observational History
The binary nature of Beta Centauri was first discovered in 1894 by the American astronomer S. W. Burnham. The two stars are so close together that they can only be resolved with a large telescope. The orbital period of the system is about 357 years.
Beta Centauri has been known since ancient times and was important in the cultures of many ancient civilizations. In ancient Greece, it was part of the constellation Centaurus, which represented a centaur. In ancient China, it was part of the constellation Nanmen, which represented the southern gate of the emperor's palace.
In Popular Culture
Beta Centauri has been featured in several works of science fiction, including the video game Elite Dangerous, where it is the location of a major human colony.