Alioth (Epsilon Ursae Majoris)

The brightest star in the constellation Ursa Major and the third star from the end of the Big Dipper's handle; its proper name comes from a corruption of the Arabic for "black horse."

Alioth is the brightest Ap star and is also an Alpha² Canum Venaticorum star with a period of 5.1 days. Its oxygen abundance is 100,000 times greater near the magnetic equator than near the magnetic poles (which are displaced from the rotational equator and poles); the amount of chromium varies similarly. Though visually the brightest Ap star, Alioth has one of the weakest magnetic fields of this class – 15 times weaker than that observed for Cor Caroli.

visual magnitude	1.76
absolute magnitude	-0.22
spectral type	A0V
surface temperature	9,400 K
luminosity	108 L_sun
mass	about 3 M_sun
distance	81 light-years (25 pc)
position	R.A. 12h 54m 01.7s, Dec. +55° 57' 35"
other designations	Aliath, 77 Ursae Majoris, HR 4905, BD +56°1627, HD 112185, GCTP 2964.00, SAO 28553, FK5 483, CCDM 12540+5558, HIP 62956

Related category

• NOTABLE STARS

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