Alpha Volantis
Binary star system in the constellation Volans
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Alpha Volantis (Alpha Vol), Latinized from α Volantis, is a binary star[13] system located in the southern constellation Volans. It has an apparent visual magnitude of +4.00, which is bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. Based upon parallax measurements made with the Hipparcos spacecraft, it is located at a distance of 125 light years from the Sun. As of 2010, the two components of this system had an angular separation of 0.0318″ along a position angle of 286.9°. The magnitude difference between the two components is 0.1.[14] It is considered a member of the Sirius supercluster.[15]
The primary component is an Am star with a stellar classification of kA3hA5mA5 V.[5] This notation indicates the star has the weak calcium II K-line of an A3 star, and the hydrogen and metallic lines of an A5 star.[16] It has an estimated age of 427 million years.[11] In 1992, it was found to be emitting an infrared excess, suggesting the presence of a circumstellar disk of dust.[17] However, subsequent observations have not confirmed this.[18]