UX Arietis

UX Arietis

A visual band light curve for UX Arietis, adapted from Ulvås and Henry (2003)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Aries
Right ascension 03h 26m 35.37568s
Declination +28° 42 54.2264
Apparent magnitude (V) 6.35 - 6.71
Characteristics
Spectral type G5IV
U−B color index 0.43
B−V color index 0.90
Variable type RS CVn
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+26.53 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +46.794 mas/yr
Dec.: −102.876 mas/yr
Parallax (π)19.7836±0.1264 mas
Distance165 ± 1 ly
(50.5 ± 0.3 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)2.91
Orbit
PrimaryAa
CompanionAb
Period (P)6.437888±0.000007 d
Semi-major axis (a)1.750±0.01 mas
Eccentricity (e)0 (fixed)
Inclination (i)125.0±0.5°
Longitude of the node (Ω)113.4±0.4°
Periastron epoch (T)2456238.134 ± 0.002 HJD
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
90 (fixed)°
Orbit
PrimaryA
CompanionB
Period (P)111.02 yr
Semi-major axis (a)648.0±0.8 mas
Eccentricity (e)0.77±0.01
Inclination (i)93.3±0.6°
Longitude of the node (Ω)58.9±0.5°
Periastron epoch (T)2451664.9±34.3 HJD
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
274.9±0.8°
Details
UX Ari Aa
Mass1.30±0.06 M
Radius5.6±0.1 R
Luminosity9.3±0.7 L
Surface gravity (log g)3.06±0.04 cgs
Temperature4,560±100 K
Rotation6.44 d
UX Ari Ab
Mass1.14±0.06 M
Radius1.6±0.2 R
Luminosity2.34±0.28 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.09±0.16 cgs
Temperature5,670±100 K
UX Ari B
Mass0.75 M
Radius0.8±0.1 R
Luminosity0.38±0.08 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.51±0.13 cgs
Temperature4,930±100 K
Other designations
BD+28°532, CCDM 03266+2843, HD 21242, HIP 16042, SAO 75927
Database references
SIMBADdata
ARICNSdata

UX Arietis is a triple star system located in the northern zodiacal constellation of Aries. Based upon parallax measurements from the Gaia satellite, it is roughly 165 light years away. The star varies in brightness from magnitude 6.35 to 6.71, meaning it may be intermittently visible to the unaided eye under ideal dark-sky conditions.

In 1972, Robert E. Montle and Douglas S. Hall discovered that the star's brightness varies. It was given its variable star designation in 1973. The primary, component Aa, is the variable star, of the RS CVn type. The variability of the star is believed due to a combination of cool star spots and warm flares, set against the baseline quiescent temperature of the stellar atmosphere. The variability appears to be cyclical with a period of 8−9 years.

A more distant companion, component C, shares a common proper motion and is at the same distance. It is another cool dwarf star with an estimated spectral class of K2. Any orbit is estimated to require over 100,000 years.