21 Arietis
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Aries |
| Right ascension | 02h 15m 42.77662s |
| Declination | +25° 02′ 34.9627″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 5.57 (6.40/6.48) |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | F6 V |
| U−B color index | +0.00 |
| B−V color index | +0.50 |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | −44.3 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −89.72 mas/yr Dec.: −86.42 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 19.58±0.61 mas |
| Distance | 167 ± 5 ly (51 ± 2 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | 2.03 |
| Orbit | |
| Period (P) | 23.70 ± 0.12 yr |
| Semi-major axis (a) | 0.2353 ± 0.0011″ |
| Eccentricity (e) | 0.6816 ± 0.0037 |
| Inclination (i) | 104.52 ± 0.16° |
| Longitude of the node (Ω) | 236.44 ± 0.22° |
| Periastron epoch (T) | 1986.192 ± 0.012 |
| Argument of periastron (ω) (secondary) | 84.16 ± 0.16° |
| Details | |
| 21 Ari A | |
| Mass | 1.338 ± 0.032 M☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 4.12 cgs |
| Temperature | 6,299 K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | +0.02 dex |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 12.6 km/s |
| Age | 2.2 Gyr |
| 21 Ari B | |
| Mass | 1.374 ± 0.027 M☉ |
| Other designations | |
| BD+24 329, FK5 1059, HD 13872, HIP 10535, HR 657, SAO 75238, WDS J02157+2503. | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
21 Arietis (abbreviated 21 Ari) is a binary star system in the northern constellation of Aries. 21 Arietis is the Flamsteed designation. It has a combined apparent visual magnitude is 5.57; the brighter member is magnitude 6.40 while the fainter star is magnitude 6.48. The distance to this star system, based upon an annual parallax shift of 19.58 mas, is 167 light-years (51 parsecs). The pair orbit each other with a period of 23.70 years and an eccentricity of 0.68.
The system was initially thought to be a triple system in 1981, since the orbit of the system predicted a mass greater than would be expected from its F6V spectral type. This was later rejected because the distance to the system was overestimated. However, while observing the spectrum of the system, it was found that a giant planet may be causing radial velocity variations. The purported planet would have a mass of 1.40 ± 0.36 MJ, an orbital period of 925 days and orbit the primary star.