About Menkalinan
Description
Menkalinan is a white subgiant of spectral type A2IV at magnitude 1.90 in Auriga. Located about 82 light-years from Earth, it is an eclipsing binary system — two nearly identical A-type stars orbiting each other every 3.96 days, causing small dips in brightness as each passes in front of the other. Combined luminosity is about 95 times solar.
Observing Tips
Menkalinan is the second brightest star in Auriga after Capella, located about 7 degrees to the east-southeast. It helps define the pentagon shape of the Charioteer. Its white color contrasts with Capella's golden hue. Best observed November through April when Auriga is high in the winter sky.
History
The name Menkalinan comes from the Arabic 'mankib dhi'l-'inan,' meaning 'the shoulder of the rein-holder,' describing its position in the Charioteer figure. Its eclipsing binary nature was discovered spectroscopically in the early 20th century.
Fun Facts
Menkalinan's two nearly identical stars are so close together that they orbit each other in under 4 days. The eclipses cause brightness dips of only about 0.1 magnitude — too small to notice visually but easily measured with instruments.
Observe
1Physical Properties
2Position & Identifiers
3How easy to spot?
| Equipment | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naked eye Naked eye | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 50 mm finder 50mm finder | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 150 mm telescope 150mm scope | Easy | Easy | Easy |
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
4Visibility
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
5Survey Image
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Explore
7
Size Comparison
8
Compare Stars
9
Spectral Classification
10
Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
11
Stellar Lifecycle
12
Blackbody Spectrum
13
Stellar Absorption Spectrum
Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.
14
Stellar Fusion
Discover
15Stellar Notes
16
Light Travel Time Machine
17
Relativistic Travel
Nearby in the Sky
Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.
Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.
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