In Chinese, {{lang|zh|庫樓}} ({{lang|zh-Latn|Kù Lóu}}), meaning Arsenal, refers to an asterism consisting of ζ Centauri, η Centauri, θ Centauri, 2 Centauri, HD 117440, ξ1 Centauri, γ Centauri, τ Centauri, D Centauri and σ Centauri.[2] Consequently, ζ Centauri itself is known as {{lang|zh|庫樓一}} ({{lang|zh-Latn|Kù Lóu yī}}, {{lang-en|the First Star of Arsenal}}.)[3]
ζ Cen is a double-lined spectroscopic binary system,[27] which indicates that the orbital motion was detected by shifts in the absorption lines of their combined spectra caused by the Doppler effect. The two stars orbit each other over a period of slightly more than eight days with an orbital eccentricity of about 0.5.[12] The estimated angular separation of the pair is 1.4 mas.[13]
At an estimated age of 40 million years,[4] the primary component of this system appears to be in the subgiant stage of its evolution with a stellar classification of B2.5 IV.[4] It is a large star with nearly 8[4] times the mass of the Sun and close to 6[15] times the Sun's radius. This star is rotating rapidly with a projected rotational velocity of {{nowrap|235 km s−1}}.[19]
References
1. ^ibid., p.28.
2. ^{{zh icon}} 中國星座神話, written by 陳久金. Published by 台灣書房出版有限公司, 2005, {{ISBN|978-986-7332-25-7}}.
3. ^{{zh icon}} AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 25 日
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7. ^1 {{citation | last=Wilson | first=R. E. | date=1953 | title=General Catalogue of Stellar Radial Velocities | publisher=Carnegie Institute of Washington D.C. | bibcode=1953GCRV..C......0W }}
8. ^1 2 {{citation | last1=Bernacca | first1=P. L. | last2=Perinotto | first2=M. | title=A catalogue of stellar rotational velocities | journal=Contributi Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova in Asiago | volume=239 | issue=1 | date=1970 | bibcode=1970CoAsi.239....1B }}
9. ^1 2 3 4 {{citation | display-authors=1 | last1=Johnson | first1=H. L. | last2=Iriarte | first2=B. | last3=Mitchell | first3=R. I. | last4=Wisniewskj | first4=W. Z. | title=UBVRIJKL photometry of the bright stars | journal=Communications of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory | volume=4 | issue=99 | date=1966 | bibcode=1966CoLPL...4...99J }}
10. ^1 {{cite simbad | title=* zet Cen | accessdate=2012-03-01 }}
11. ^1 {{citation | last1=Kunitzsch | first1=P. | last2=Smart | first2=T. | date = 2006 | title = A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations | edition = 2nd revised | publisher = Sky Pub | location = Cambridge, MA | isbn=978-1-931559-44-7 | page=4 }}
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13. ^1 2 {{citation | first1=A. C. | last1=Maury | date=1922 | title=The Orbit of the Spectroscopic Binary ζ Centauri | journal=Harvard College Observatory Circular | volume=233 | pages=1–4 | bibcode=1922HarCi.233....1M }}
14. ^1 2 {{citation | last1=Halbwachs | first1=J. L. | title=List of Estimated Angular Separations of Spectroscopic Binaries | journal=Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement | volume=44 | page=47 |date=April 1981 | bibcode=1981A&AS...44...47H }}