The variable radial velocity of this star was discovered at Lick Observatory and was announced by J. H. Moore in 1924. It is a single-lined spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of 14.58 years and an eccentricity of 0.345.[5] The visible component is an evolvedgiant star with a stellar classification of K0III: CN1 Ba0.7 Sr2.[3] This is a mild barium star[9] with the suffix notation above indicating associated abundance anomalies. The companion is a presumed white dwarf star that has already passed through its giant stage, during which time it enhanced the envelope of the companion with s-process elements. The pair form one of the widest barium star binaries known, which may account for the mildness of the barium anomaly.[5]
^ abKeenan, Philip C.; McNeil, Raymond C. (1989). "The Perkins catalog of revised MK types for the cooler stars". Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 71: 245. Bibcode:1989ApJS...71..245K. doi:10.1086/191373.
^Mermilliod, J.-C. (1986). "Compilation of Eggen's UBV data, transformed to UBV (unpublished)". Catalogue of Eggen's UBV Data. Bibcode:1986EgUBV........0M.
^ abcdGriffin, R. F. (February 1991). "Spectroscopic binary orbits from photoelectric radial velocities. Paper 96: 16 Serpentis". The Observatory. 111: 29–37. Bibcode:1991Obs...111...29G.