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Zubenelgenubi

Zuben Elgenubi, Alpha² Librae, 9 Librae

White Star in Libra

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Proper Names	Zubenelgenubi, Zuben Elgenubi
Bayer Designation	Alpha² Librae
Flamsteed Number	9 Librae
HR (BSC)	5531
HD	130841
Constellation	Libra
Right Ascension	14h 50m 53s
Declination	-16° 2' 30"
Distance	76 light years 23 parsecs
Magnitude	Apparent: +2.8 Absolute: +0.9
Spectral Class	A3IV white subgiant
Optimum Visibility	May
Notes	Zubenelgenubi is a complex system comprising a pair of binary stars: both Alpha¹ and Alpha² Librae are spectroscopic binary systems. These two systems evidently shared a common origin and display similar proper motion, travelling through space at a distance of some 5,400 AU apart. There is potentionally another, much more distant, associated star in KU Librae, which also shows proper motion equivalent to the Alpha stars.

The brighter of a pair of stars that lie close to the Ecliptic in Libra. Its name refers to the 'southern claw' of Scorpius - the stars of Libra originally belonged to that constellation.

The fainter fifth-magnitude star close to Zubenelgenubi to the northwest is Alpha¹ Librae. Traditionally the name Zubenelgenubi was often shared by these stars as a pair, but the name is now formally applied only to Alpha² Librae. The two stars do not form a binary system, but they are related; they evidently shared a common origin, and follow similar paths through the Galaxy. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

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