Epsilon Geminorum
 Location of ε Geminorum (circled) |
|
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation | Gemini |
| Right ascension | 06h 43m 55.92626s |
| Declination | +25° 07′ 52.0515″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +3.06 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | G8 Ib |
| U−B color index | +1.46 |
| B−V color index | +1.40 |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +8.09 ± 0.14 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) |
RA: –5.57 mas/yr Dec.: −12.36 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 3.86 ± 0.17mas |
| Distance | 840 ± 40 ly (260 ± 10 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | –3.90 |
| Details | |
| Mass | 19.2 ± 0.1 M☉ |
| Radius | 140 ± 35 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 8,500 L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 0.88 ± 0.05 cgs |
| Temperature | 4,662 ± 36 K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.15 ± 0.07 dex |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 8.7 ± 1.0 km/s |
| Age | 8.3 ± 0.1 Myr |
| Other designations | |
Epsilon Geminorum (ε Geminorum, abbreviated Epsilon Gem, ε Gem), also named Mebsuta, is a star in the constellation of Gemini and is located on the outstretched right 'leg' of the twin Castor. The apparent visual magnitude of +3.06 makes it one of the brighter stars in this constellation.
The distance to this star can be determined directly using parallax measurements, yielding a value of 840 light-years (260 parsecs), although this result has a relatively large margin of error of 40 ly (12 pc). Because Epsilon Geminorum is located near the ecliptic it can be occulted by the Moon or a planet. Just such an occultation took place on April 8, 1976 by Mars, which allowed the oblateness of the planet's outer atmosphere to be measured. Prior to that, the star was occulted by Mercury on June 10, 1940. On September 3, 2015, Epsilon Geminorum is expected to be occulted by the asteroid Iphigenia.
ε Geminorum (Latinised to Epsilon Geminorum) is the star's Bayer designation. It bore the traditional names Mebsuta, Melboula or Melucta. Mebsuta has its roots in ancient Arabic where it and the star Mekbuda (Zeta Geminorum) were the paws of a lion. Mebsuta ('Mabsūṭah' مبسوطة) comes from a phrase referring to the outstretched paw. In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN's first bulletin of July 2016 included a table of the first two batches of names approved by the WGSN; which included Mebsuta for this star.
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