Chi Aquilae (Latin χ Aquilae, abbreviated χ Aql) is a star situated in the northern celestial constellation of Aquila. It bears the Bayer designation χ, indicating its rank among the stars catalogued by Johann Bayer in the early 17th century.
Identification and catalogues
- Bayer designation: χ Aquilae
- Flamsteed designation: 57 Aquilae
- Henry Draper Catalogue: HD 184915
- Hipparcos Catalogue: HIP 96285
- Bright Star Catalogue: HR 7462
Location and visibility
χ Aquilae lies near the mid‑line of Aquila, close to the celestial equator, giving it a declination of approximately +07 degrees. Its right ascension (J2000.0) is about 19 h 44 m. With an apparent visual magnitude near 5.2, the star is at the limit of naked‑eye visibility under dark‑sky conditions.
Physical characteristics
The star is classified as an A‑type main‑sequence star (spectral type A2V), indicating it is a white star that fuses hydrogen in its core. Parallax measurements from the Hipparcos mission place χ Aquilae at a distance of roughly 150 light‑years (≈46 parsecs) from the Sun. Its absolute magnitude, mass, radius, and luminosity are consistent with those of typical A‑type dwarfs, being several times more massive and luminous than the Sun.
Stellar environment
χ Aquilae is not known to possess any confirmed stellar companions or to be a variable star. No significant infrared excess has been detected, suggesting an absence of a substantial circumstellar dust disk.
Historical and cultural notes
The Bayer letter χ was assigned without reference to any particular mythological or navigational role. The star does not feature prominently in traditional Chinese, Arabic, or Western asterisms beyond its inclusion in the broader depiction of Aquila, the Eagle.
Observational data
- Apparent magnitude (V): ~5.2
- Spectral type: A2V
- Parallax: ~21 mas (Hipparcos) → distance ≈150 ly
- Radial velocity: modest, on the order of a few km s⁻¹ relative to the Solar System
References
Data for χ Aquilae are compiled in standard astronomical catalogues such as the Hipparcos and Tycho‑2 catalogues, the Henry Draper Catalogue, and the Bright Star Catalogue. These sources provide the astrometric, photometric, and spectroscopic parameters cited above.