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==Real Life Information== | ==Real Life Information== | ||
Rasalhague, also known as Alpha Ophiuchi, is a real star system that exists in our universe. It is the brightest star in the constellation of Ophiuchus and is located approximately 47 light-years away from Earth. | |||
===Overview=== | |||
Rasalhague is a binary star system, consisting of a primary star, Alpha Ophiuchi A, and a faint companion, Alpha Ophiuchi B. The primary star is a white giant of spectral type A5III, which means it is a star that has exhausted the hydrogen at its core and evolved away from the main sequence. The companion star is a faint 12th magnitude star located about 20 arcseconds away from the primary. | |||
The name "Rasalhague" comes from the Arabic phrase "ra's al-ḥawwā'", which means "the head of the serpent collector". This name is a reference to the constellation of Ophiuchus, which is often depicted as a man holding a snake. | |||
===Physical Properties=== | |||
The primary star, Alpha Ophiuchi A, has about 2.4 times the mass of the Sun and 25 times its radius. It is about 25 times more luminous than the Sun, with an effective temperature of about 8,000 Kelvin, which gives it a white hue. The star is rotating rapidly, with a projected rotational velocity of about 240 km/s, which is causing it to have an oblate shape. | |||
The faint companion, Alpha Ophiuchi B, is much less studied due to its faintness. It is believed to be a main-sequence star of spectral type K, which means it is cooler and less massive than the Sun. | |||
===Observational History=== | |||
Rasalhague has been known since antiquity and was one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy. It was later included in the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union. | |||
The binary nature of Rasalhague was discovered in 1851 by the English astronomer William Rutter Dawes. The companion star is challenging to observe due to its faintness and close proximity to the bright primary star. | |||
===In Popular Culture=== | |||
Rasalhague has been featured in various works of fiction and popular culture. For example, in the science fiction universe of BattleTech, Rasalhague is the capital of the Free Rasalhague Republic. In the video game Elite Dangerous, players can visit a realistic representation of the Rasalhague system. | |||
==Images== | ==Images== | ||