Lesson plan
Upsilon2 Centauri
Upsilon 2 Centauri is a binary star system in the southern constellation Centaurus. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from υ 2 Centauri, and abbreviated Upsilon 2 Cen or υ 2 Cen. This system is visible to the naked eye as a point of light with a combined apparent visual magnitude of +4.33. Based upon an annual parallax shift of as seen from Earth, this star is located roughly 1,300 light years from the Sun. Relative to its neighbors, the system has a peculiar velocity of and it may form a runaway star system. This is a single-lined spectroscopic binary star system with an orbital period of 207.357 days and an eccentricity of 0.55. The primary component has the spectrum of an evolved F-type giant/bright giant hybrid with a stellar classification of F7 II/III. It is around 46 million years old with 6.9 times the mass of the Sun. The star is radiating 3,919 times the Sun's luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 6,495 K.
Article summary
Upsilon 2 Centauri is a binary star system in the southern constellation Centaurus. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from υ 2 Centauri, and abbreviated Upsilon 2 Cen or υ 2 Cen. This system is visible to the naked eye as a point of light with a combined apparent visual magnitude of +4.33. Based upon an annual parallax shift of as seen from Earth, this star is located roughly 1,300 light years from the Sun. Relative to its neighbors, the system has a peculiar velocity of and it may form a runaway star system. This is a single-lined spectroscopic binary star system with an orbital period of 207.357 days and an eccentricity of 0.55. The primary component has the spectrum of an evolved F-type giant/bright giant hybrid with a stellar classification of F7 II/III. It is around 46 million years old with 6.9 times the mass of the Sun. The star is radiating 3,919 times the Sun's luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 6,495 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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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.