Omicron_Serpentis
Omicron Serpentis
Star in the constellation Serpens
Omicron Serpentis (ο Ser, ο Serpentis) is a solitary[12] star in the Serpens Cauda (tail) section of the equatorial constellation Serpens. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 18.83 mas as seen from Earth,[1] it is located around 173 light years from the Sun. The star is visible to the naked eye with a base apparent visual magnitude of +4.26.[2]
This is a white-hued A-type main sequence star with a stellar classification of A2 Va.[3] It is located on the lower instability strip[6] and is classified as a Delta Scuti type variable star. The apparent magnitude of the star varies in the range 4.26−4.27 with a period of 76 minutes, or 0.053 days.[6][13]
The star has an estimated 2.13[7] times the mass of the Sun and about 2.2[8] times the Sun's radius. It is about half a billion[7] years old and is spinning with a projected rotational velocity of 112.6 km/s.[10] Omicron Serpentis is radiating 42.6[9] times the solar luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 8,972 K.[7]
In 1909, the symbiotic nova[14] RT Serpentis appeared near Omicron, although it only reached a maximum magnitude of 10.[15]