Iota Boötis

ι Boötis
Location of ι Boötis (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Boötes
Right ascension 14h 16m 09.930s
Declination +51° 22 02.029
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.75 (4.73–4.78)
Characteristics
Spectral type A7 V + K0 V
U−B color index +0.06
B−V color index +0.20
R−I color index +0.09
Variable type Delta Scuti variable
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−18.7 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −149.277 mas/yr
Dec.: +89.135 mas/yr
Parallax (π)33.8856±0.0820 mas
Distance96.3 ± 0.2 ly
(29.51 ± 0.07 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+2.38
Details
ι Boo A
Mass1.650±0.04 M
Radius1.715+0.055
0.021
 R
Luminosity8.90+0.06
0.07
 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.14+0.01
0.02
 cgs
Temperature7,764+3
8
 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]+0.19 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)144 km/s
Age785±223 Myr
HD 234121
Mass0.807+0.042
0.041
 M
Radius0.824±0.017 R
Luminosity0.411+0.051
0.041
 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.511+0.018
0.005
 cgs
Temperature5,090+17
4
 K
Other designations
Asellus Secondus, ι Boötis, 21 Boötis, BD+52°1784, FK5 528, GC 19269, HD 125161, HIP 69713, HR 5350, SAO 29071, PPM 34432, WDS J14162+5122
Database references
SIMBADdata
Data sources:
Hipparcos Catalogue,
CCDM (2002),
Bright Star Catalogue (5th rev. ed.)

Iota Boötis is a wide binary star system in the constellation Boötes, approximately 96 light-years from Earth. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from ι Boötis, and abbreviated Iota Boo or ι Boo. The brighter component has the traditional name Asellus Secundus, pronounced /əˈsɛləs sɪˈkʌndəs/, which is Latin for "second donkey colt", and the Flamsteed designation 21 Boötis. It is faintly visible to the naked eye with a typical apparent visual magnitude of +4.75. Based on parallax measurements, it is located at a distance of 96 light-years (29 pc) from the Earth. The star is drifting closer to the Sun with a radial velocity of −19 km/s.

The companion is HD 234121, a K-type main-sequence star at an angular distance of 38.6 arcseconds; easily separated with binoculars.