46 Leonis Minoris (abbreviated 46 LMi), also named Praecipua /prɪˈsɪpjʊə/,[10] is the brightest star in the constellation of Leo Minor. It is of spectral class K0+III-IV and of magnitude 3.83. It is a red clump giant.[4] Based upon parallax measurements, its distance from the Sun is approximately 95 light-years. It is a suspected variable with an amplitude of about 0.05 magnitudes.[3]

46 Leonis Minoris

Location of 46 Leonis Minoris (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Leo Minor
Right ascension	10h 53m 18.70487s[1]
Declination	+34° 12′ 53.5375″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)	3.83[2] (3.79–3.84[3])
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage	red clump[4]
Spectral type	K0+ III-IV[5]
Variable type	suspected[3]
Astrometry
Proper motion (μ)	RA: +92.02[1] mas/yr Dec.: −285.82[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)	34.38 ± 0.21 mas[1]
Distance	94.9 ± 0.6 ly (29.1 ± 0.2 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	+1.45[6]
Details
Mass	1.69[7] M☉
Radius	8.22 ± 0.22[2] R☉
Luminosity	34 ± 2[2] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)	2.96[2] cgs
Temperature	4,670[2] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]	−0.20[8] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)	1.81[9] km/s
Age	6.76[4] Gyr
Other designations
Praecipua, 46 LMi, BD+34 2172, FK5 412, HD 94264, HIP 53229, HR 4247, SAO 62297
Database references
SIMBAD	data

Nomenclature

46 Leonis Minoris is the star's Flamsteed designation. It is sometimes designated "o LMi" (not "ο LMi"), from Bode's catalogue of 1801. It was presumably intended to be designated α, as Francis Baily decided to letter each star brighter than magnitude 4.5, but the designation was missing from his catalogue, even though the dimmer β was included.[11]

It bore the traditional proper name Praecipua, derived from the Latin for "the Chief (Star of Leo Minor)".[12] The name may originally have referred to 37 Leonis Minoris, and later mistakenly transferred to this star.[13] In 2016, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)[14] to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN approved the name Praecipua for this star on 30 June 2017 and it is now so included in the List of IAU-approved Star Names.[10]

It is known as 勢四, "the Fourth (Star) of the Eunuch", in traditional Chinese astronomy.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Chinese star names

References

На других языках

[de] 46 Leonis Minoris

[es] Praecipua

[ru] 46 Малого Льва