Astronomy:HD 160529
250px A visual band light curve for V905 Scorpii. The red points are from Sterken et al. (1997),[1] and the blue points are ASAS data.[2] | |
| Observation data Equinox J2000.0]] (ICRS) | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Scorpius |
| Right ascension | 17h 41m 59.025s[3] |
| Declination | −33° 30′ 13.71″[3] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 6.66[4] (6.3–6.9[5]) |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | LBV |
| U−B color index | +0.30[4] |
| B−V color index | +1.21[4] |
| Variable type | LBV[5] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | −35[6] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −1.75[3] mas/yr Dec.: −1.49[3] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 0.54 ± 0.54[3] mas |
| Distance | 2,500[7] pc |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | −8.9[8] |
| Details | |
| Mass | 13[8] M☉ |
| Radius | 150–330[5] R☉ |
| Luminosity | 290,000[7] L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 0.55[8] cgs |
| Temperature | 8,000–12,000[5] K |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 45[5] km/s |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
HD 160529 (V905 Scorpii) is a luminous blue variable (LBV) star located in the constellation of Scorpius. With an apparent magnitude of around +6.8 it cannot be seen with the naked eye except under very favourable conditions, but it is easy to see with binoculars or amateur telescopes.
Physical characteristics

In 1974, Bernhard Wolf et al. announced that the brightness of HD 160529 varied on the timescale of days or weeks.[9] Two years later, Christiaan Sterken showed that it also varied on timescales of a few hours.[10] The star has a peculiar variable spectral type with emission lines and P Cygni profiles. At visual maximum it is similar to an A9 star and at minimum close to B8.[5] The distance has been estimated at 2.5 kiloparsecs (8,200 light years) based on the assumption of an absolute magnitude of −8.9.[8] However this distance is uncertain and values between 1.9 kiloparsecs and 3.5 kiloparsecs have been proposed.[5]
Working with a distance of 2.5 kiloparsecs, the radius varies from 150 R☉ when quiescent to 330 R☉ in outburst. The temperature also varies, from 8,000K in outburst to 12,000K when quiescent. With these parameters, the apparent visual magnitude varies by 0.5 and the bolometric luminosity is constant at 180,000 L☉.[5]
Estimates of the surface gravity lead to a mass of 13 M☉ and a probable initial mass of 25 M☉ This suggests that V905 Sco is a former red supergiant star.[8]
References
- ↑ Sterken, C.; van Genderen, A. M.; de Groot, M. (January 1997). "Cyclic Light Variations in LBVs". Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series 120 (Luminous Blue Variables: Massive Stars in Transition): 35. Bibcode: 1997ASPC..120...35S. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1997ASPC..120...35S. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ↑ "ASAS All Star Catalogue". The All Sky Automated Survey. https://www.astrouw.edu.pl/asas/?page=aasc.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Van Leeuwen, F. (2007). "Validation of the new Hipparcos reduction". Astronomy and Astrophysics 474 (2): 653–664. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078357. Bibcode: 2007A&A...474..653V.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Ducati, J. R. (2002). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: Catalogue of Stellar Photometry in Johnson's 11-color system". CDS/ADC Collection of Electronic Catalogues 2237: 0. Bibcode: 2002yCat.2237....0D.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Stahl, O.; Gäng, T.; Sterken, C.; Kaufer, A.; Rivinius, T.; Szeifert, T.; Wolf, B. (March 2003). "Long-term spectroscopic monitoring of the Luminous Blue Variable HD 160529". Astronomy and Astrophysics 400: 279–291. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20021908. Bibcode: 2003A&A...400..279S.
- ↑ Gontcharov, G. A. (2006). "Pulkovo Compilation of Radial Velocities for 35 495 Hipparcos stars in a common system". Astronomy Letters 32 (11): 759–771. doi:10.1134/S1063773706110065. Bibcode: 2006AstL...32..759G.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Nazé, Y.; Rauw, G.; Hutsemékers, D. (2012). "The first X-ray survey of Galactic luminous blue variables". Astronomy & Astrophysics 538: A47. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201118040. Bibcode: 2012A&A...538A..47N.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Sterken, C.; Gosset, E.; Juttner, A.; Stahl, O.; Wolf, B.; Axer, M. (July 1991). "HD 160529 – a New Galactic Luminous Blue Variable". Astronomy and Astrophysics 247 (2): 383. Bibcode: 1991A&A...247..383S.
- ↑ Wolf, B.; Campusano, L.; Sterken, C. (November 1974). "Spectroscopic and photometric investigation of the A2 Ia-0 star HD 160529". Astronomy and Astrophysics 36: 87-98. Bibcode: 1974A&A....36...87W. https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/pdf/1974A%26A....36...87W. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
- ↑ Sterken, C. (March 1976). "The short-term light variations of HD 160529". Astronomy and Astrophysics 47: 453-455. https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/pdf/1976A%26A....47..453S. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
