15 Cancri A, the visible component, is an Ap star, a chemically peculiar star with an over-abundance of iron peak elements, particularly silicon, chromium, and strontium, in its spectrum.[11][4]
Like all Ap stars, 15 Cancri has a strong magnetic field. This magnetic field varies as it rotates and in 1968 the visual brightness of the star was shown to vary regularly over about four days.[12] 15 Cancri was given the variable star designation BM Cancri in 1972 as a member of the α2 CVn class of variable stars.[13] The period has since been measured more accurately at 3.3095 d, believed to be the rotational period of the star.[14]
Notes
^ abAn alternate period of 475 days is possible but less likely.
^ abSamus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007-2013)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S. 1. Bibcode:2009yCat....102025S.
^Plaskett, J. S.; et al. (1919). "Fourth list of spectroscopic binaries". Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. 13: 372–378. Bibcode:1919JRASC..13..372P.
^Abt, Helmut A.; Snowden, Michael S. (1973). "The Binary Frequency for AP Stars". Astrophysical Journal Supplement. 25: 137–162. Bibcode:1973ApJS...25..137A. doi:10.1086/190265.