Lesson plan
Lambda Ceti
Lambda Ceti is a star in the equatorial constellation of Cetus. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from λ Ceti, and abbreviated Lambda Cet or λ Cet. Historically, the star bore the traditional name Menkar, although today that name is more commonly associated with α Ceti. With an apparent visual magnitude of 4.71, it is faintly visible to the naked eye. Based on parallax measurement of as seen from Earth, it is located at a distance of approximately from the Sun. The star is drifting further away with a line of sight velocity component of 10 km/s. This star, along with α Cet (Menkar), γ Cet (Kaffaljidhma), δ Cet, μ Cet, ξ 1 Cet and ξ 2 Cet were Al Kaff al Jidhmah, "the Part of a Hand". In Chinese, ( ), meaning Circular Celestial Granary, refers to an asterism consisting of λ Ceti, α Ceti, κ 1 Ceti, μ Ceti, ξ 1 Ceti, ξ 2 Ceti, ν Ceti, γ Ceti, δ Ceti, 75 Ceti, 70 Ceti, 63 Ceti and 66 Ceti. Consequently, the Chinese name for λ Ceti itself is ( , .) Lambda Ceti is a blue giant star with stellar classification B6III. It is an estimated 100-125 million years old, and is spinning rapidly with a projected rotational velocity of 131 km/s. It has five times the mass of the Sun and 5.4 times the Sun's radius. The star is radiating 920 times the Sun's luminosity at an effective temperature of 13,940 K.
Article summary
Lambda Ceti is a star in the equatorial constellation of Cetus. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from λ Ceti, and abbreviated Lambda Cet or λ Cet. Historically, the star bore the traditional name Menkar, although today that name is more commonly associated with α Ceti. With an apparent visual magnitude of 4.71, it is faintly visible to the naked eye. Based on parallax measurement of as seen from Earth, it is located at a distance of approximately from the Sun. The star is drifting further away with a line of sight velocity component of 10 km/s. This star, along with α Cet (Menkar), γ Cet (Kaffaljidhma), δ Cet, μ Cet, ξ 1 Cet and ξ 2 Cet were Al Kaff al Jidhmah, "the Part of a Hand". In Chinese, ( ), meaning Circular Celestial Granary, refers to an asterism consisting of λ Ceti, α Ceti, κ 1 Ceti, μ Ceti, ξ 1 Ceti, ξ 2 Ceti, ν Ceti, γ Ceti, δ Ceti, 75 Ceti, 70 Ceti, 63 Ceti and 66 Ceti. Consequently, the Chinese name for λ Ceti itself is ( , .) Lambda Ceti is a blue giant star with stellar classification B6III. It is an estimated 100-125 million years old, and is spinning rapidly with a projected rotational velocity of 131 km/s. It has five times the mass of the Sun and 5.4 times the Sun's radius. The star is radiating 920 times the Sun's luminosity at an effective temperature of 13,940 K.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
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