Spica A
|
|
Spectral |
B1 III-IV
|
Type |
Subgiant
|
Luminosity |
12,100 LSol
|
Absolute magnitude |
−3.5
|
Mag Terra
|
1.04 (15th)
|
Temperature |
22,400° K
|
Mass
|
10.25 MSol
|
Radius
|
7.40 RSol
|
Spica B
|
|
Spectral |
B2 V
|
Type |
Main Sequence
|
Luminosity |
1,500 LSol
|
Absolute magnitude |
−1.5
|
Mag Terra
|
1.04 (15th)
|
Temperature |
18,500° K
|
Mass
|
6.97 MSol
|
Radius
|
3.64 RSol
|
Spica (otherwise known by the alternate names Azimech, Alaraph, and Alpha Virginis) is a binary star system comprised of a blue-white subgiant star of spectral class B1 orbited by a blue-white main sequence companion star of spectral class B2.
Description (Specifications)[edit]
Spica lies approximately 260 light years from Terra. It has a luminosity 13,400 LSol, and a mass of ~11 MSol.
- Spica is the brightest of the rotating ellipsoidal variables, its apparent magnitude varying between +0.92 and +1.04 as Spica B orbits its primary Spica A in a slightly elliptical path over a 4.0145 day period.
- The two stars are separated by 0.12AU.
- Spica is also a variable of the Beta Cephei type.
- Spica is the 15th brightest star as seen from Terra, it is the 52nd brightest star in the galaxy, and one of the brightest in Charted Space.
- Spica is not a significantly large star.
- There is evidence that Spica is in fact multiple, with three other fainter components in addition to Spica A and Spica B.
The Spica star system lies approximately 76.6pc from Terra, and is located in a Coretrailing/Trailing direction from Terra at bearing 316.1o Galactic Longitude and +50.8o North Galactic Latitude.
History & Background (Dossier)[edit]
Though it is in the same local area of space, Spica A and Spica B are NOT the primary stars of the world Spica/Spica (Spica 2205). The primary stars of the world Spica are a binary pair (K4 II / M7 V) that lies very close to the actual location of the binary stars named Spica A and Spica B, which likely lend the world, subsector, and sector their names.
Image Repository[edit]
TravellerMap (T5SS):
[1]
References & Contributors (Sources)[edit]