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Epsilon Arietis

48 Arietis

Proper NameNone
Bayer DesignationEpsilon Arietis
Flamsteed Number48 Arietis
HR (BSC)888 (A), 887 (B)
HD18520 (A), 18519 (B)
ConstellationAries
Right Ascension2h 59m 13s (A), 2h 59m 13s (B)
Declination+21° 20' 26" (A), +21° 20' 24" (B)
Distance332 light years
102 parsecs
MagnitudeApparent: +4.63 (combined), +5.16 (A), +5.57 (B)
Absolute: -0.41 (combined), +0.12 (A), +0.53 (B)
Spectral ClassA2IV white subgiant (A), A3IVs white subgiant (B)
Optimum VisibilityNovember
NotesThe two stars that make up this binary system are remarkably similar to one another. Each is a white subgiant (though some sources prefer to classify the stars as belonging to the main sequence), and each has mass some 2.4 times that of the Sun.

Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

Image of Epsilon Arietis

Close inspection of Epsilon Arietis reveals that it is actually a binary system: two white stars of similar mass and luminosity follow long slow orbits around one another.

The white light of this pair of massive stars is dimmed somewhat by their great distance: more than three hundred light years from Earth. Nonetheless, in combination, they are luminous enough to be visible to the naked eye.

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