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Spica is the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo (lower left). As one of the nearest massive binary star systems to the Sun, Spica has been the subject of many observational studies. [17] Spica is believed to be the star that gave Hipparchus the data that led him to discover the precession of the equinoxes. [18]
Spica is a binary blue-white star pair that appears as a single point of light from Earth, and is commonly if incorrectly referred to as a single star. The star system is 250 light years away and has an apparent magnitude of 1.04. [13] It is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, and is the 15th brightest star in the night sky. [14]
The 7 main stars of Virgo form 2 distinct star patterns: Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon and Eta Virginis; form an asterism known as "The Bowl of Virgo". Together with Spica and Theta Virginis, they form a Y shape. The star 70 Virginis has one of the first known extrasolar planetary systems with one confirmed planet 7.5 times the mass of Jupiter.
• Notes = Common name(s) or alternate name(s); comments; notable properties [for example: multiple star status, range of variability if it is a variable star, exoplanets, etc.] See also [ edit ]
Virgo is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for virgin. Lying between Leo to the west and Libra to the east, it is the second largest constellation in the sky (after Hydra). It can be easily found through its brightest star, Spica.
A light curve for Spica, adapted from Tkachenko et al. (2016) [1] Rotating ellipsoidal variables are a class of close binary variable star systems whose components are ellipsoidal. They are not eclipsing, but fluctuations in apparent magnitude occur due to changes in the amount of light emitting area visible to the observer. Typical brightness ...
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Virgo, and her main star Spica, have Babylonian precedents. The MUL.APIN associates Absin "The Furrow" with the Sumerian goddess Shala , and on boundary stones of the Kassite era Shala is conventionally depicted as holding a length of grain.