Location of the ν Boötis pair (circled)
Location of the ν Boötis pair (circled)
ν Boötis in optical light. ν2 is the blue-white star to the left. ν1 is the orange star to the right.

The Bayer designation Nu Boötis (ν Boo / ν Boötis) is shared by two star systems, in the constellation Boötes:

They are separated by 0.17° on the sky. They have almost identical visual magnitudes, but contrasting colours: ν1 is a yellow giant star, while ν2 is a close binary with two white main sequence stars.

Both stars were members of asterism 七公 (Qī Gōng), Seven Excellencies, Heavenly Market enclosure.[1]

Ptolemy considered Nu Boötis to be shared by Hercules, and Bayer assigned it a designation in both constellations: Nu Boötis (ν Boo) and Psi Herculis (ψ Her). When the modern constellation boundaries were fixed in 1930, the latter designation dropped from use.[2]

References

  1. ↑ (in Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 6 月 26 日
  2. ↑ "Bayer's Uranometria and Bayer letters". Archived from the original on 2019-03-15. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
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