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Nehushtan

Xi Serpentis, 55 Serpentis

Proper NameNehushtan
Bayer DesignationXi Serpentis
Flamsteed Number55 Serpentis
HR (BSC)6561
HD159876
ConstellationSerpens
Right Ascension17h 37m 35s
Declination-15° 23' 55"
Distance99 light years
30 parsecs
MagnitudeApparent: +3.53
Absolute: +1.11
Spectral ClassA9IIIpSr white giant
Optimum VisibilityJune / July
NotesAt the heart of the Nehushtan system is a close binary pair, in which a white giant is orbited by a tiny dwarf star with only about a fifth of the Sun's mass. Accompanying this pair through space is a third member of the system, Nehushtan B, which follows a much more distant orbit over a period estimated to approach 15,000 years.

Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

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