Dubhe B
By: Mary Ziperman
Scientific Name - Alpha Ursae Majoris
2 Interesting Facts
- The Dubhe B and Dubhe C are part of a binary system and orbit the star called the Dubhe. (44.4 years for one orbit.)
- It forms the end of the constellation The Big Dipper, and points to the Pole Star.
Color and Temperature
Color - White/Yellowish/Orange
Temperature - 7400 Kelvins.
Luminosity
- The Dubhe B's luminosity is .49 times our Sun's luminosity.
- Definition of Luminosity - Amount of energy released from star due to nuclear fusion.
Absolute and Apparent Magnitude
- Apparent Magnitude: 4.73
- Absolute Magnitude: -1.09
- Definition of Apparent Magnitude: A number that tells how bright that star appears from it's distance from Earth.
- Definition of Absolute Magnitude: It is the apparent magnitude the star would have if it was placed 10 parsecs from the Earth.
Size
- Mass: .77 times the Sun's mass
- Diameter: .53 times the Sun's diameter
Age and Stellar Evolution Stage
- White Dwarf
- White yellow main sequence star
- In the core helium burning stage
- Estimated age: 300 million years
Distance form Earth
124 light years
Sources
- http://www.mediahex.com/Dubhe 9/19/14
- http://domeofthesky.com/clicks/dubhe.html 9/19/14
- http://en.spaceengine.org/forum/11-1215-1 9/21/14
- http://jumk.de/astronomie/big-stars/dubhe.shtml 9/21/14
- http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/dubhe.html 9/23/14
- http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC1DW64_the-big-dipper-dubhe?guid=f12ca2eb-6439-4aa8-b411-657769b40116 9/23/14