Zeta Aquarii

ζ Aquarii
Location of ζ Aquarii (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Aquarius
ζ Aqr A
Right ascension 22h 28m 49.888s
Declination −00° 01 11.87
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.42
ζ Aqr B
Right ascension 22h 28m 49.886s
Declination −00° 01 13.96
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.51
Characteristics
Spectral type F3 V + F6 IV
U−B color index −0.01
B−V color index +0.40
Astrometry
ζ Aqr A
Radial velocity (Rv)+24.9 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +180.832 mas/yr
Dec.: +33.072 mas/yr
Parallax (π)34.5070±0.4712 mas
Distance95 ± 1 ly
(29.0 ± 0.4 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)1.15
ζ Aqr B
Radial velocity (Rv)+28.9 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +224.295 mas/yr
Dec.: +25.396 mas/yr
Parallax (π)34.4525 ± 0.3109 mas
Distance94.7 ± 0.9 ly
(29.0 ± 0.3 pc)
Orbit
Primaryζ Aqr Aa
Companionζ Aqr Ab
Period (P)25.95±0.048 yr
Semi-major axis (a)0.385″
Eccentricity (e)0.872±0.006
Inclination (i)11.8±6.7°
Longitude of the node (Ω)293.7±74°
Periastron epoch (T)B 2006.52±0.13
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
100.9±73°
Orbit
Primaryζ Aqr A
Companionζ Aqr B
Period (P)540±15 yr
Semi-major axis (a)3.496±0.046″
Eccentricity (e)0.419±0.011
Inclination (i)142.0±0.4°
Longitude of the node (Ω)131.3±0.8°
Periastron epoch (T)B 1981.50±0.58
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
269.3±1.7°
Details
ζ Aqr Aa
Mass1.4 M
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.13 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)62 km/s
Age3 Gyr
ζ Aqr Ab
Mass0.6 M
ζ Aqr B
Mass1.4 M
Rotational velocity (v sin i)56 km/s
Other designations
ζ Aquarii, ζ Aqr, Zet Aqr, 55 Aquarii, BD−00°4365, HIP 110960, ADS 15971
ζ Aqr A: ζ2 Aquarii, Zeta2 Aquarii, HD 213052, HR 8559, SAO 146108
ζ Aqr B: ζ1 Aquarii, Zeta1 Aquarii, HD 213051, HR 8558, SAO 146107
Database references
SIMBADζ Aqr
ζ Aqr A
ζ Aqr B

Zeta Aquarii is a triple star system, the central star of the "water jar" asterism in the equatorial constellation of Aquarius. Its identifier is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from ζ Aquarii, and abbreviated Zet Aqr or ζ Aqr, respectively. The combined apparent visual magnitude of this system is 3.65, which is readily visible to the naked eye. Parallax measurements yield a distance estimate of around 95 light-years (29 parsecs) from Earth.