Astronomy:Struve 1694

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Short description: Binary star in the constellation Camelopardalis


Position of Σ 1694 (circled)
Red circle.svg
Position of Σ 1694 (circled)

Struve 1694 (Σ 1694, Struve 1694) is a double star in the constellation Camelopardalis.[1]

Σ 1694 is a double star, with components of magnitudes 5.3m and 5.9m:

Norton's Star Atlas describes the pair as yellowish and bluish.[1]

Σ 1694 was also known as 32H. Camelopardalis, Hevelius' 32nd of Camelopardalis. It is not Flamsteed's "32 Camelopardalis", which is ξ Aurigae. In the British Association Catalogue, the star pair are listed as being in Ursa Minor.[2]

Chinese name

In Chinese, 北極 (Běi Jí), meaning North Pole, refers to an asterism consisting of Σ 1694, γ Ursae Minoris, β Ursae Minoris, 5 Ursae Minoris and 4 Ursae Minoris.[3] Consequently, Σ 1694 itself is known as 北極五 (Běi Jí wǔ, English: the Fifth Star of North Pole.),[4] representing 天樞 (Tiānshū), meaning Celestial Pivot.[5]

This star was regarded as the north star by the Chinese people from Han Dynasty to Song Dynasty.

References