GJ 1061
Encyclopedia
GJ 1061 is a small red dwarf
star approximately 12 light-year
s from Earth in the southern constellation
of Horologium
. Even though it is a relatively nearby it is very dim with a magnitude
of about 13 so it can only be seen with at least a moderately-sized telescope
.
of this star has been known for some time but it was thought to be much further away. Its distance was only accurately determined in 1997 by the RECONS team. At that time it was the 20th nearest star system to the Sun
. The discovery team noted that many more stars such as this are likely to be discovered nearby.
, close to the lower mass limit for a star. It has an estimated mass of about 11.3% of the Sun
and is only 0.1% as luminous
.
Red dwarf
According to the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, a red dwarf star is a small and relatively cool star, of the main sequence, either late K or M spectral type....
star approximately 12 light-year
Light-year
A light-year, also light year or lightyear is a unit of length, equal to just under 10 trillion kilometres...
s from Earth in the southern constellation
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
of Horologium
Horologium
Horologium is a small and faint constellation in the southern sky . Its name is Latin for clock. It was created in the 18th century by Abbé Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, who originally named it Horologium Oscillitorium after the pendulum clock to honour its inventor, Christiaan Huygens...
. Even though it is a relatively nearby it is very dim with a magnitude
Apparent magnitude
The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...
of about 13 so it can only be seen with at least a moderately-sized telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
.
Significance
The proper motionProper motion
The proper motion of a star is its angular change in position over time as seen from the center of mass of the solar system. It is measured in seconds of arc per year, arcsec/yr, where 3600 arcseconds equal one degree. This contrasts with radial velocity, which is the time rate of change in...
of this star has been known for some time but it was thought to be much further away. Its distance was only accurately determined in 1997 by the RECONS team. At that time it was the 20th nearest star system to the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
. The discovery team noted that many more stars such as this are likely to be discovered nearby.
Properties
This star is a very small, dim, red dwarfRed dwarf
According to the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, a red dwarf star is a small and relatively cool star, of the main sequence, either late K or M spectral type....
, close to the lower mass limit for a star. It has an estimated mass of about 11.3% of the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
and is only 0.1% as luminous
Luminosity
Luminosity is a measurement of brightness.-In photometry and color imaging:In photometry, luminosity is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to luminance, which is the density of luminous intensity in a given direction. The SI unit for luminance is candela per square metre.The luminosity function...
.