Psi Sagittarii

Psi Sagittarii
Location of ψ Sagittarii (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Sagittarius
Right ascension 19h 15m 32.42658s
Declination −25° 15 24.0569
Apparent magnitude (V) +4.86
Characteristics
Spectral type K2 III + A9 III + A3 V
B−V color index 0.569±0.006
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−11.43±1.47 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +45.50 mas/yr
Dec.: −31.08 mas/yr
Parallax (π)10.93±0.31 mas
Distance298 ± 8 ly
(91 ± 3 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)0.06
Orbit
Period (P)7,319 d
Eccentricity (e)0.51
Periastron epoch (T)2442418.795 JD
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
2.6°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
10.0 km/s
Semi-amplitude (K2)
(secondary)
13.8 km/s
Details
A
Mass2.10 M
Luminosity84 L
Ba/Bb
Mass1.70/2.70 M
Other designations
ψ Sgr, 42 Sgr, CPD−27°6737, HD 179950, HIP 94643, HR 7292, SAO 187882, WDS J19155-2515
Database references
SIMBADdata

Psi Sagittarii, which is Latinized from ψ Sagittarii, is a triple star system in the zodiac constellation of Sagittarius. The star system is located at a distance of 298 light years from the Earth based on parallax, but is drifting closer with a heliocentric radial velocity of −12 km/s. The system is faintly visible to the naked eye has a combined apparent visual magnitude of +4.86.

The inner pair of this triple star system, components Ba and Bb, have an orbital period of 10.78 days and an eccentricity of 0.47. The pair consist of an A-type giant and a less evolved A-type main-sequence star with stellar classifications of A9 III + A3 V, respectively. These in turn share an orbit with the primary, component A, having a period of 20 years and an eccentricity of 0.51. The last is an orange-hued K-type giant with a class of K2 III.