Aludra
| Observation Data Epoch J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Variability | |
| Spectral Type | B5Ia |
| Right Ascension | 07:24:05.71 |
| Declination | -29:18:11.14 |
| Distance | 3196.07 ly (980.39 ps) |
| Apparent Magnitude (V) | 2.45 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Mass | ~29.835 x 1030 kg (15 M☉) |
| Radius | 73.776 million km (106 R☉) |
| Colour (B-V) | -0.09 |
| Colour (V-I) | -0.09 |
| Absolute Magnitude (V) | -7.57 |
| Luminosity (V) | 127392 L☉ |
| Surface Temperature | 10591 K |
| Age | 12 MYA |
| Rotation Period | |
| Oscillation Period | |
| Notable Features | |
| Other Designations | HIP 35904 |
| System | |
| Stellar Components | |
| Stellar Companions | |
| Planets and Minor Bodies | |
Aludra is the proper name of the star η Canis Majoris in the constellation Canis Major. Aludra shines brightly in the skies in spite of a large distance from Earth due to being intrinsically many times brighter than the Sun. A blue supergiant, Aludra has only been around a fraction of the time our Sun has yet is already in the last stages of its life. It is still expanding and may be becoming a red supergiant, or perhaps has already passed that phase, but in either case it will go supernova within the next few million years.
The name Aludra originates from the Arabic: عذرا al-aðrā "the virgin". In ancient times Arabic astrologers/astronomers referred to a group of four stars in the Canis Major constellation, also known as the "Greater Dog", as Al 'Adhara "the virgins".
Categories: Star stubs | Bayer objects | Blue-white supergiants | Canis Major constellation