Theta1 Orionis B

For other stars with this Bayer designation, see θ Orionis.
θ1 Orionis B

θ1 Orionis B and nearby stars in the Trapezium Cluster
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Orion
Right ascension 05h 35m 16.134s[1]
Declination −05° 23′ 6.78″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 7.90 (- 7.98) - 8.65[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type B1V[3]
Variable type Algol[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)26 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +1.280[1] mas/yr
Dec.: +1.278[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)2.6548 ± 0.0424 mas[1]
Distance1,230 ± 20 ly
(377 ± 6 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−0.80[4]
Orbit[5]
Period (P)6.471 days
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)		52.8 km/s
Semi-amplitude (K2)
(secondary)		171 km/s
Details
B1
Mass6[5] M☉
Radius3[5] R☉
Luminosity776[4] L☉
Temperature19,320[4] K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)170[6] km/s
B5
Mass2[5] M☉
Radius8.4[6] R☉
Luminosity80[6] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)3.0[6] cgs
Temperature5.740[6] K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)60[6] km/s
B2
Mass3[7] M☉
B3
Mass2.5[7] M☉
B4
Mass0.2[7] M☉
Other designations
41 Orionis B, BM Orionis, HD 37021, HR 1894, TYC 4774-954-1, 2MASS J05351611-0523068
Database references
SIMBADdata

Theta1 Orionis B (θ1 Orionis B), also known as BM Orionis, is a multiple star system containing at least five members. It is also one of the main stars of the Trapezium Cluster, with the others being A, C, and D. The primary is an eclipsing variable and one of the youngest known eclipsing binary systems.

Variability

[edit]
A broadband optical light curve for BM Orionis, adapted from Windemuth et al. (2013)[5]

θ1 Orionis B varies in brightness and has been given the variable star designation BM Orionis. Every 6.47 days, it drops from magnitude 7.90 to a minimum of magnitude 8.65 for 8–9 hours. It was quickly classified as an eclipsing variable showing total eclipses of the brighter component, an Algol-type variable. In between the primary eclipses, there are slight brightness variations attributed to reflection effects, and a shallow secondary eclipse of less than a tenth of a magnitude.[5]

Although the light curve appears straightforward, it shows variations in the shape of the eclipse from cycle to cycle and the properties of the eclipsing component cannot easily be reconciled with the light curve.[5]

Mini-cluster

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θ1 Orionis B has been resolved into four stars. Conventionally, the brightest star is known as B1, while the companions are known as B2, B3, and B4. B2 and B3 are only just over 0.1" apart, and the two are 0.9" from B1. B2 is approximately two magnitudes fainter than B1, and B3 another magnitude fainter. In between, B4 is 0.6" from B1 and five magnitudes fainter.[8]

The brightest component, B1, is known to be an eclipsing binary and its unresolved companion is generally called B5.[8] A third component of the eclipsing system has been proposed to account for unusual variations in the timing of the eclipses,[9] but is not yet widely accepted.[5] The unseen companion is likely to be a pre-main-sequence star with an age of between 10,000 and 100,000 years, making it one of the least-evolved stars known. As of 2013, the pair were considered to be the youngest known eclipsing binary.[5]

The stars making up θ1 Orionis B are gravitationally bound, but their configuration is likely to be unstable and will eventually decay. Only the close B1/B5 binary will remain after a few million years.[10]

Properties

[edit]

θ1 Orionis B1 is a hot main sequence star with a spectral type of B1. Its spectroscopic companion B5 is estimated to have a spectral type of G2 III from observations during the total eclipses.[6] The unusual and changeable eclipses are thought to be caused by a translucent disc surrounding the secondary star. It is seen nearly edge-on and variations in its opacity cause differences in the light curve shape.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Vallenari, A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (2023). "Gaia Data Release 3. Summary of the content and survey properties". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 674: A1. arXiv:2208.00211. Bibcode:2023A&A...674A...1G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202243940. S2CID 244398875. Gaia DR3 record for this source at VizieR.
  2. ^ a b Samus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007-2013)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S. 1. Bibcode:2009yCat....102025S.
  3. ^ Mason, Brian D.; Gies, Douglas R.; Hartkopf, William I.; Bagnuolo, William G.; Ten Brummelaar, Theo; McAlister, Harold A. (1998). "ICCD speckle observations of binary stars. XIX - an astrometric/spectroscopic survey of O stars". Astronomical Journal. 115 (2): 821. Bibcode:1998AJ....115..821M. doi:10.1086/300234.
  4. ^ a b c Malkov, O. Yu. (2007). "Mass-luminosity relation of intermediate-mass stars". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 382 (3): 1073–1086. Bibcode:2007MNRAS.382.1073M. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2007.12086.x.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Windemuth, Diana; Herbst, William; Tingle, Evan; Fuechsl, Rachel; Kilgard, Roy; Pinette, Melanie; Templeton, Matthew; Henden, Arne (2013). "Dramatic Evolution of the Disk-shaped Secondary in the Orion Trapezium Star θ1 Ori B1 (BM Ori): MOST Satellite Observations". The Astrophysical Journal. 768 (1): 67. arXiv:1303.5091. Bibcode:2013ApJ...768...67W. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/768/1/67. S2CID 118589524.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Vitrichenko, E. A.; Plachinda, S. I. (2000). "Spectrum of the Star BM Ori at Minimum Light". Astronomy Letters. 26 (6): 390. Bibcode:2000AstL...26..390V. doi:10.1134/1.20406. S2CID 121395202.
  7. ^ a b c Schertl, D.; Balega, Y. Y.; Preibisch, Th.; Weigelt, G. (2003). "Orbital motion of the massive multiple stars in the Orion Trapezium". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 402: 267–275. Bibcode:2003A&A...402..267S. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20030225.
  8. ^ a b Close, L. M.; Puglisi, A.; Males, J. R.; Arcidiacono, C.; Skemer, A.; Guerra, J. C.; Busoni, L.; Brusa, G.; Pinna, E.; Miller, D. L.; Riccardi, A.; McCarthy, D. W.; Xompero, M.; Kulesa, C.; Quiros-Pacheco, F.; Argomedo, J.; Brynnel, J.; Esposito, S.; Mannucci, F.; Boutsia, K.; Fini, L.; Thompson, D. J.; Hill, J. M.; Woodward, C. E.; Briguglio, R.; Rodigas, T. J.; Briguglio, R.; Stefanini, P.; Agapito, G.; et al. (2012). "High-resolution Images of Orbital Motion in the Orion Trapezium Cluster with the LBT AO System". The Astrophysical Journal. 749 (2): 180. arXiv:1203.2638. Bibcode:2012ApJ...749..180C. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/749/2/180. S2CID 119298839.
  9. ^ Vitrichenko, É. A.; Klochkova, V. G.; Tsymbal, V. V. (2006). "THE BM Ori system. IV. A new component of the system". Astrophysics. 49 (1): 96–104. Bibcode:2006Ap.....49...96V. doi:10.1007/s10511-006-0011-5. S2CID 121615881.
  10. ^ Allen, Christine; Costero, Rafael; Hernández, Miroslava (2015). "The Dynamical Future of the Mini-cluster θ1 Ori B". The Astronomical Journal. 150 (6): 167. Bibcode:2015AJ....150..167A. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/150/6/167. S2CID 125207825.
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