Chi Ursae Majoris
  Location of χ Ursae Majoris (circled) | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Ursa Major |
| Right ascension | 11h 46m 03.0s |
| Declination | +47° 46' 46" |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +3.69 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | K0.5IIIb |
| Astrometry | |
| Distance | 196 ± 7 ly (60 ± 2 pc) |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Chi Ursae Majoris (Chi UMa, χ Ursae Majoris, χ UMa) is a star in the constellation Ursa Major. It has the traditional names Alkafzah, Alkaphrah, and El Koprah.
Chi Ursae Majoris is an orange K-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +3.69. It is approximately 196 light years from Earth. This star has 20.8 ± 0.8 times the radius of the Sun.[1]
In Chinese astronomy, Alkafzah is called Tai Yang Show, "the Sun Governor".[2] The name was possibly derived from the word 太陽守, Pinyin: Tàiyángshǒu, meaning Guard of the Sun, because this star is marking itself and stand alone in Guard of the Sun asterism, Purple Forbidden enclosure (see : Chinese constellation).
The Spiral Galaxy in Ursa Major, NGC 3877 (= H I.201), type Sc, is best found from Chi Ursae Majoris, which is almost exactly 15 arc minutes north of the galaxy.
See also
References
- ↑ Nordgren, Tyler E.; et al. (December 1999), "Stellar Angular Diameters of Late-Type Giants and Supergiants Measured with the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer", The Astronomical Journal, 118 (6): 3032–3038, Bibcode:1999AJ....118.3032N, doi:10.1086/301114
- ↑ Richard Hinckley Allen: Star Names — Their Lore and Meaning: Ursa Major
- Chi Ursae Majoris on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images