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Proper NameNone
Bayer DesignationIota Serpentis
Flamsteed Number21 Serpentis
HR (BSC)5842
HD140159
ConstellationSerpens (Caput)
Right Ascension15h 41m 33s
Declination+19° 40' 13"
Distance190 light years
58 parsecs
MagnitudeApparent: +4.51
Absolute: +0.68
Spectral ClassB9Vn blue main sequence star + A1V white main sequence star
Optimum VisibilityMay / June
NotesFifth-magnitude Iota Serpentis is a spectroscopic binary forming part of the head and jaws of Serpens the Serpent in the sky (and thus falling within the part of that constellation named Serpens Caput, the Serpent's Head). The system consists of a pair of hot main sequence stars in a close mutual orbit.

Though not resolvable in this image, Iota Serpentis consists of a binary pair of hot main sequence stars, one blue and one white. The two orbit one another over a period of years (there is some disagreement over the precise orbital period, but more recent analyses place it at a little under twenty-two years). Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

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