Pi Boo
Pi1
and Pi2 Boo (29 Boo)
form a pair of stars separated by 5.6", making them an easy target in most
telescopes. The brighter, primary, is a magnitude 4.5, Ap star. The fainter
component is a 5.9 magnitude A6 main sequence star. The similar spectral
types (and thus temperatures) should make for stars of similar color, although
my observations record the brighter star as very slightly blue and the
fainter a very slight, dull orange.
According to the Hipparcos survey, the primary star
lies 320 light years away. The fainter is actually closer; 260 light years
distant. This coupled with a difference in their observed motion makes
it unlikely that these two stars form a physical pair. Both stars are suspected
to be variable, although the Hipparcos results do not confirm this. Ap
stars are known to vary very quickly with small amplitudes (well below
the detection capability of Hipparcos).
The view in a 6" at 270x. North is down and East is
right.
Millennium Star Atlas Vol II Chart 694
Sky Atlas 2000 Chart 14
Uranometria 2000 Vol I Chart 198
Did you come to this page from
elsewhere?
If so click the logo to visit the Skyhound
main page.