NU Orionis

NU Orionis

Image of Messier 43, with NU Orionis in the center
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Orion
Right ascension 05h 35m 31.3649s
Declination −05° 16′ 02.582″
Apparent magnitude (V) +6.80–6.93
Characteristics
Spectral type B0.5V (Aa) + A/B (B) + B2V (C)
Variable type INSA
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)67±1 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +0.922 mas/yr
Dec.: +1.718 mas/yr
Parallax (π)2.4059±0.0585 mas
Distance1,360 ± 30 ly
(420 ± 10 pc)
Orbit
PrimaryAa
NameAb
Period (P)14.3027(7) days
Semi-major axis (a)0.36±0.01 au
Eccentricity (e)<0.02
Inclination (i)70±4°
Periastron epoch (T)2,440,578.5(5) JD
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
50±8 km/s
Semi-amplitude (K2)
(secondary)
172±3 km/s
Orbit
PrimaryA
NameC
Period (P)476±1 days
Semi-major axis (a)3.77±0.12 au
Eccentricity (e)0.09±0.06
Inclination (i)70.1±0.9°
Periastron epoch (T)2,453,639(7) JD
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
100±5°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
21±4 km/s
Semi-amplitude (K2)
(secondary)
47±6 km/s
Position (relative to AC)
ComponentB
Epoch of observation1999
Angular distance470 mas
Projected separation195±4 AU
Details
Aa
Mass16.4±0.4 M
Radius5.7±0.3 R
Luminosity26,900 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.15±0.05 cgs
Temperature31,100±500 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)190±20 km/s
Age3+2
−1
 Myr
Ab
Mass4.4±0.2 M
Radius2.5±0.3 R
Luminosity350 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.28±0.10 cgs
Temperature15,700±500 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)8±3 km/s
Age3+2
−1
 Myr
B
Mass3.8 M
Radius2.3 R
Luminosity190 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.28 cgs
Temperature14,000 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)180 km/s
Age3+2
−1
 Myr
C
Mass8.1±0.4 M
Radius3.6±0.4 R
Luminosity2,800 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.25±0.10 cgs
Temperature22,300±500 K
Rotation1.09468(7) days
Rotational velocity (v sin i)104±10 km/s
Age3+2
−1
 Myr
Other designations
BD−05°1325, HD 37061, HIP 26258, TYC 4774-906-1
Database references
SIMBADdata

NU Orionis (HD 37061) is a quadruple star system in the Orion constellation. It is located in the emission nebula Messier 43 and is the main star ionizing it. The distance to the system is 1,360 light-years (420 parsecs), as determined by its stellar parallax.