The variable nature of RS Canum Venaticorum was discovered by the Russian astronomer Lidiya Tseraskaya in 1914.[13] It is a detached binary in a close, circular orbit with a period of 4.8 days.[10] The orbital plane is inclined by an angle of 85.55° to the line of sight from the Earth, causing this to be viewed from Earth as an eclipsing binary. Some of the brightness variations are caused by large spots on the surface of the star. Similar variable stars are known as RS Canum Venaticorum variables.[10]
Some RS Canum Venaticorum variables, including this star, also undergo eclipses. The primary eclipse minimum decreases the visual brightness of the system by 1.21 magnitudes, while the secondary minimum decreases it by 0.26 magnitudes.[3] The exact magnitudes vary somewhat due to the inherent variability of the secondary. The General Catalogue of Variable Stars lists magnitude 8.19 for the secondary minimum and 9.14 for the primary minimum.[4]
The secondary component is a magnetically activeK-typesubgiant star with a class of K2 IV.[5] It has 4.3 times the Sun's radius and a relatively high rotation rate with a projected rotational velocity of 42 km/s.[10] This rapid spin was likely driven by interaction with the primary, and it generates the surface magnetic activity that makes the star variable.[14] As with the Sun, it is undergoing differential rotation.[10]
Lower temperature starspots cover a significant fraction of the secondary's surface, causing light variation as the star rotates.[15] These are found at several active latitudes on the star below 70°, and appear to migrate at the rate of 0.1° per day.[10] The total amount of spots varies in intensity with a cycle of 19.7±1.9 years, ranging from 17% to 37% coverage of the surface.[1] The luminosity also varies slightly (0.01) due to proximity and reflection from the primary star.[5]X-ray emission has been detected from this star with a luminosity of 2.14×1031 erg s−1.[10] It has also been detected in the radio band.[16]
References
^ abcRodono, M.; et al. (September 1995), "Starspot evolution, activity cycle and orbital period variation of the prototype active binary RS Canum Venaticorum.", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 301: 75, Bibcode:1995A&A...301...75R
^ abStrassmeier, K. G.; Fekel, F. C. (1990), "The spectral classification of chromospherically active binary stars with composite spectra", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 230: 389, Bibcode:1990A&A...230..389S
^Eggen, Olin J. (December 1995), "Reality Tests of Superclusters in the Young Disk Population", Astronomical Journal, 110: 2862, Bibcode:1995AJ....110.2862E, doi:10.1086/117734
^Sitterly, Bancroft Walker (1930), "The Eclipsing Variable RS Canum Venaticorum", Contributions from the Princeton University Observatory, 11: 21−41, Bibcode:1930CoPri..11...21S
Rodonò, M.; et al. (May 2001), "On the determination of the light curve parameters of detached active binaries. I. The prototype RS Canum Venaticorum", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 371: 174–185, Bibcode:2001A&A...371..174R, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20010324
Heckert, Paul A.; Ordway, James I. (May 1995), "Long Term SPOT Activity on Eclipsing RS CVn Stars: RS CVn, SS Boo, and MM HER", Astronomical Journal, 109: 2169, Bibcode:1995AJ....109.2169H, doi:10.1086/117442
Hall, D. S. (1994), "The active dynamo stars RS Cvn, BY Dra, FK Com, Algol, W UMa and T Tau.", Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italiana, 65: 73–82, Bibcode:1994MmSAI..65...73H
Reglero, V.; Gimenez, A.; Estela, A. (May 1990), "The active eclipsing binary RS Canum Venaticorum", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 231: 375–382, Bibcode:1990A&A...231..375R
Gimenez, A.; et al. (July 1990), "Ultraviolet to near-infrared continuum flux distribution in the active binary RS canum venaticorum", Astrophysics and Space Science, 169 (1–2): 233–236, Bibcode:1990Ap&SS.169..233G, doi:10.1007/BF00640721, S2CID120407496
Drake, Stephen A.; et al. (December 1989), "A Survey of the Radio Continuum Emission of RS Canum Venaticorum and Related Active Binary Systems", Astrophysical Journal Supplement, 71: 905, Bibcode:1989ApJS...71..905D, doi:10.1086/191402
Kang, Y. W.; Wilson, R. E. (June 1984), "Starspot Cycle of RS CVn", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 16: 726, Bibcode:1984BAAS...16..726K
Evren, S.; et al. (January 1980), "New Light Curves of RS CVn", Information Bulletin on Variable Stars, 1732: 1, Bibcode:1980IBVS.1732....1E
Eaton, J. A.; et al. (November 1980), "A Sudden Acceleration in the Migration Rate of RS CVn", Information Bulletin on Variable Stars, 1862: 1, Bibcode:1980IBVS.1862....1E
Naftilan, S. A.; Drake, S. A. (October 1980), "The spectrum of RS CVn.", Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 92: 675–681, Bibcode:1980PASP...92..675N, doi:10.1086/130728
Pfeiffer, R. J. (August 1979), "Intrinsic linear polarization of the eclipsing binary RS Canum Venaticorum.", Astrophysical Journal, 232: 181–189, Bibcode:1979ApJ...232..181P, doi:10.1086/157277
Rhombs, C. G.; Fix, J. D. (September 1977), "Spectrophotometry of RS Canum Venaticorum, AR Lacertae, and UX Arietis.", Astrophysical Journal, 216: 503–507, Bibcode:1977ApJ...216..503R, doi:10.1086/155491
Rhombs, C. G.; Fix, J. D. (1976), "A spectrophotometric investigation of the wave of RS CVn.", Acta Astronautica, 26: 301–304, Bibcode:1976AcA....26..301R
Oliver, J. P. (October 1975), "Comments on the tilted ring model for the eclipsing binary RS CVn", Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 87: 695–697, Bibcode:1975PASP...87..695O, doi:10.1086/129829
Catalano, S.; Rodonò, M. (August 1974), "On the Orbital Period and Light Curve Variations of the Binary System RS Canum Venaticorum", Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 86 (512): 390, Bibcode:1974PASP...86..390C, doi:10.1086/129620
Arnold, C. N.; Hall, D. S. (October 1973), "On the Period Variations in RS CVn and SS Cam", Information Bulletin on Variable Stars, 843: 1, Bibcode:1973IBVS..843....1A
Hall, Douglas S. (April 1972), "A T Tauri-Like Star in the Eclipsing Binary RS Canum Venaticorum", Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 84 (498): 323, Bibcode:1972PASP...84..323H, doi:10.1086/129291, S2CID123585929
Nelson, Burt; Duckworth, Edwin (October 1968), "Variations in the Light Curves of RS Canum Venticorum and SV Camelopardalis", Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 80 (476): 562, Bibcode:1968PASP...80..562N, doi:10.1086/128686
Popper, Daniel M. (January 1961), "Rediscussion of Eclipsing Binaries. V. RS Canum Venaticorum", Astrophysical Journal, 133: 148, Bibcode:1961ApJ...133..148P, doi:10.1086/147011
Plavec, M.; Smetanová, M. (1959), "Period variations of the eclipsing binary RS Canum Venaticorum", Bulletin of the Astronomical Institute of Czechoslovakia, 10: 192, Bibcode:1959BAICz..10..192P
Keller, G.; Limber, D. N. (May 1951), "A Photoelectric Study of the Eclipsing Stars RS Canum Venaticorum and YY Sagittarii", Astrophysical Journal, 113: 637, Bibcode:1951ApJ...113..637K, doi:10.1086/145433
Joy, A. H. (August 1922), "Spectroscopic Observations of R S Canum Venaticorum", Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 34 (200): 221, Bibcode:1922PASP...34..221J, doi:10.1086/123207
Sitterly, B. W. (January 1921), "Provisional elements of the eclipsing system RS Canum Venaticorum", Astrophysical Journal, 53: 99–104, Bibcode:1921ApJ....53...99S, doi:10.1086/142586