Beta Lupi (Latinized from β Lupi) is a star in the southern constellation of Lupus. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 2.7, making it readily visible to the naked eye. Based upon parallax measurements, this star is located at a distance of about from Earth.
Properties The stellar classification of B2 III indicates this is a giant star. The effective temperature of the star's outer envelope is 24,090 K, giving it the blue-white hue of a B-type star. With an age of around 25 million years, it is near the end of its hydrogen phase, where hydrogen is fused into the element helium, and transferring into a red supergiant star. At about 8.8 solar masses, it may have enough mass to end its life as a Type II supernova, but there is the possibility of Beta Lupi becoming a white dwarf.
This is a multi-period Beta Cephei variable with a dominant oscillation period of 0.232 days. It is a proper motion member of the Upper Centaurus–Lupus sub-group in the Scorpius–Centaurus OB association, the nearest such co-moving association of massive stars to the Sun. Beta Lupi has a high proper motion of more than 50 mas per year, suggesting a significant transverse velocity.
It is positioned about 1.3° SSW of the supernova remnant SN 1006.
Name In Chinese, (), meaning Imperial Guards, refers to an asterism consisting of β Lupi, γ Lupi, δ Lupi, κ Centauri, λ Lupi, ε Lupi, μ Lup, π Lupi, ο Lupi and α Lupi. 中國星座神話, written by 陳久金. Published by 台灣書房出版有限公司, 2005, . Consequently, the Chinese name for β Lupi itself is (, .). 香港太空館 - 研究資源 - 亮星中英對照表 , Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.] From the French rendering of this Chinese name derives the traditional European name Ke KwanRichard Hinckley Allen: Star Names — Their Lore and Meaning: Lupus or Kekouan ().
See also Traditional Chinese star names#Lupus
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