A light curve for Upsilon Cygni. The main figure, plotted from Hipparcos data,[1] shows the long-term variability, and the inset figure, plotted from TESS data,[2] shows the short-term variability.
This is a B-type main sequence star with a stellar classification of B2 Vne.[5] The 'e' suffix indicates this is a Be star, which means it is a rapidly rotating star surrounded by an orbiting gaseous disk. It has a high projected rotational velocity of about 230 km/s,[6] which accounts for the nebulous appearance of its lines as indicated by the 'n' suffix. The emission region of its disk has a radius of 0.20±0.04 AU.[9] The star itself is being viewed generally "pole-on", as ascertained by the lack of absorption features from the disk.[13]
The star shows variations in luminosity, including short term non-radial pulsations with periods of 2.95 and 2.6 per day, as well as random outbursts occurring up to every few years. The latter may be associated with mass-loss episodes. There is suspicion this is a spectroscopic binary, but no companion has been detected via speckle interferometry. Measured variations in radial velocity may be caused by a companion having an orbital period of about 11.4 years.[10] Several stars appear close to it in the sky, but they are likely optical companions.[14]
References
^"/ftp/cats/more/HIP/cdroms/cats". Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Strasbourg astronomical Data Center. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
^ abcNicolet, B. (1978), "Photoelectric photometric Catalogue of homogeneous measurements in the UBV System", Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series, 34: 1–49, Bibcode:1978A&AS...34....1N.
^ abMurphy, R. E. (November 1969), "A spectroscopic investigation of visual binaries with B-type primaries.", Astronomical Journal, 74: 1082–1094, Bibcode:1969AJ.....74.1082M, doi:10.1086/110908.
^"ups Cyg -- Be Star", SIMBAD Astronomical Database, Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg, retrieved 2017-02-21.
^Peters, G. J. (February 1979), "An analysis of the far-ultraviolet spectra of the pole-on Be stars Upsilon Cygni and MU Centauri", Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 39: 175–193, Bibcode:1979ApJS...39..175P, doi:10.1086/190570.