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Mu Herculis

86 Herculis

Yellow subgiant in Hercules

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Proper Name	None
Bayer Designation	Mu Herculis; Mu¹ Herculis (A), Mu² Herculis (BC)
Flamsteed Number	86 Herculis
HR (BSC)	6623
HD	161797
Constellation	Hercules
Right Ascension	17h 46m 28s (A), 17h 46m 25s (BC)
Declination	+27° 43' 15" (A), +27° 43' 2" (BC)
Distance	27 light years 8 parsecs
Magnitude	Apparent: +3.42 (A), +10.20 (BC) Absolute: +3.82 (A), +10.26 (BC)
Spectral Class	G5IV yellow subgiant (A) M3.5V red dwarf (BC)
Optimum Visibility	June / July
Notes	The primary star of this quadruple system is a G-type yellow subgiant that has reached the end of its existence as a main sequence star and is begining its expansion into a giant. All three of its companions are low-mass red dwarfs, one in a close orbit around the primary subgiant, and the other two, more distant from the inner pair, locked in their own mutual orbit.

Though Mu Herculis appears as a single star in this image, it is in fact a multiple system consisting of pair of binaries. The bright central star is a yellow subgiant with a red dwarf in a very close orbit, and in combination these comprise the 'A' component (also known as Mu¹ Herculis or Mu Herculis Aab). Slightly to the southwest (though not separately distinguishable in this image) is a second pair of red dwarf stars, the BC component (also designated Mu² Herculis). Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

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