What is the orbital period for the closest companion star to Polaris A, identified as Polaris Ab?
Answer
About 29.4 years
The closest companion to the primary star, Polaris A, is Polaris Ab. This star is a smaller F6 main-sequence star, and it orbits the brighter primary component. The established period for this orbit is approximately 29.4 years. This orbital path is notably eccentric, meaning the distance between the two stars varies significantly throughout their revolution. At their closest approach, known as periastron, the stars experience tidal forces, which some scientists hypothesize may be influencing the unusual pulsation patterns observed in the larger star, Polaris Aa.
Related Questions
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