Luyten 726-8

Database links to Luyten 726-8

Double star Luyten 726-8
Observation dates equinox :  J2000.0 , epoch : J2000.0
AladinLite
Constellation	whale
Apparent brightness	08/12 mag
Astrometry
Radial velocity	+29.0 km / s
parallax	369.93 ± 0.27 / 372.16 ± 0.28 mas
distance	8.81 ± 0.01 / 8.76 ± 0.01 ly (2.70 / 2.69 pc )
Proper movement :
Rec. Share:	3296 mas / a
Dec. portion:	563 mas / a
orbit
period	26.52 years
eccentricity	0.62
Epoch of the periastron	1971.91
Argument of the periapsis	285.3 °
Individual data
Names	A / BL Ceti; B / UV Ceti
Observation data:
Right ascension	A / BL Ceti	01 h 39 m 01.377 s
	B / UV Ceti	01 h 39 m 01.633 s
declination	A / BL Ceti	−17 ° 57 ′ 02.399 ″
	B / UV Ceti	−17 ° 57 ′ 01.122 ″
Apparent brightness	A / BL Ceti	12.7 mag
	B / UV Ceti	13.2 mag
Typing:
Spectral class	A / BL Ceti	M5.5 V
	B / UV Ceti	M6.0 V
Physical Properties:
Absolute vis. Brightness M vis	A / BL Ceti	14.9 mag
	B / UV Ceti	15.35 likes
Dimensions	A / BL Ceti	0.102 M ☉
	B / UV Ceti	0.100 M ☉
radius	A / BL Ceti	0.14 R ☉
	B / UV Ceti	0.14 R ☉
Luminosity	A / BL Ceti	0.00006 L ☉
	B / UV Ceti	0.00004 L ☉
Effective temperature	A / BL Ceti	2670 K
	B / UV Ceti	2650 K
Other names and catalog entries
WDS catalog WDS J01388-1758AB Further designations: GJ 65, 2MASS J01390120-1757026

Luyten 726-8 (also Gliese  65) is a binary star system made up of two red dwarfs and one of the Sun's closest neighbors at a distance of 8.7 light years . The component Luyten 726-8 B of the binary star system is the well-known flare star UV Ceti , the slightly brighter component Luyten 726-8 A is also a flare star (BL Ceti), but with a lower typical brightness amplitude.

The binary star system was discovered in 1948 by Willem Jacob Luyten , after whom it is also named. The two components orbit each other with a period of 26.5 years at a distance that fluctuates between 2.1 AU in the periastron and 8.8 AU in the apastron .

The closest neighbor of the system Luyten 726-8 is the Sun-like single star Tau Ceti at a distance of 3.2 light years.

According to a calculation by Robert AJ Mathews, the double star system Luyten 726-8 was the star closest to the Sun until 32,000 years ago. Due to the different speeds of the star orbits, it was replaced by Proxima Centauri .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} GJ 65. In: SIMBAD . Center de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg , accessed September 16, 2018 . 
2. ↑ ^{a b c} GJ 65 A. In: SIMBAD. Center de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg, accessed September 16, 2018 . 
3. ↑ ^{a b c} GJ 65 B. In: SIMBAD. Center de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg, accessed September 16, 2018 . 
4. ↑ L 726-8 at Solstation
5. ↑ The Close Approach of Stars in the Solar Neighborhood, bibcode : 1994QJRAS..35 .... 1M (English)