Stellar System
The primary component, 83 Leonis A, is a 6th magnitude star. It is not visible to the unaided eye, but easily visible with small binoculars. The star is classified as a subgiant, meaning that it has ceased fusing hydrogen in its core and started to evolve towards red gianthood.
The secondary component, 83 Leonis B, is an 8th magnitude orange dwarf, somewhat less massive (0.88 MSun), smaller and cooler than our Sun. It is visible only with binoculars or better equipment. Components A and B share common proper motion, which confirms them as a physical pair. The projected separation between the stars is 515 AU, but the true separation may be much higher.
There is yet another, magnitude 14.4 component listed in the Washington Double Star Catalog. However, this star is moving into a different direction and is therefore not a true member of the 83 Leonis system.
Read more about this topic: 83 Leonis
Famous quotes containing the word system:
“Nothing is so well calculated to produce a death-like torpor in the country as an extended system of taxation and a great national debt.”
—William Cobbett (1762–1835)