36 Ophiuchi ABC

Star type
g A: K1
g B: K1
g C: K5 V

Distance from Earth
g 19.52 ly

Star Service No.
g NA

Age
g A: 590 million years
g B: NA
g C: 8.8 Gy (range of 8.64 Gy to 8.96 Gy)

Diameter/Mass/Temp (xSol)
g A: 81%; 85%; NA
g B: 81%; 85%; 5140 K
g C: 72%; 71%; NA

Brightness (xSol)
g A: 28%
g B: 27%
g C: 8.7%

Metallicity
g A: 50%-98%
g B: 123%-246%
g C: 46%-100%

Comparison to Sol
g See chart (all stars similar to Alpha Centauri B)

Picture of stars
g NA

Star system features
g Stars A and B are separated "on average" by about 88 AUs (of a semi-major axis) in a highly eccentric orbit (e= 0.922) that swings between seven and 169 AUs and takes around 570 years to complete. Star C orbits the AB pair from around 4,370 to 5,390 AUs away and is a variable star.

Known planets
g A: None
g B: Existence of an unseen but massive substellar, fourth component around Star B is now thought to be unlikely
g C: None

Habitable zone
g A: The orbital distance where an Earth-type planet would have liquid water is centered around 0.54 AU - just beyond Mercury's orbital distance in the Solar System - where a planet's period would be about 167 days; probability of a habitable planet is 2.3%. Star probably is too young to support life, however.
g B: The orbital distance where an Earth-type planet would have liquid water is centered around 0.53 AU, just beyond the orbital distance of Mercury in the Solar System, where the orbital period would be almost 163 days; probability of a habitable planet is less than 2%
g C: The orbital distance where an Earth-type planet would have liquid water is centered around 0.30 AU, three fourths of Mercury's orbital distance of in the Solar System, where the orbital period would be over 76 days; probability of a habitable planet is less than 0.1% (if satellite-stabilized)

Orbital map
g See map

View from star
g Stars A-B: See sky map
g Star C: See sky map

Nearby stars
(Star systems with 10 light years)
g CD-32 13297: 3 ly
g MLO 4 ABC: 4.5 ly
g Wolf 630 ABC: 6.3 ly
g CD-44 11909: 6.4 ly
g Wolf 629 AB: 6.8 ly
g BD-12 4523 AB: 7.5 ly
g Gliese 674: 7.6 ly
g G 154-44: 8.2 ly
g GJ 588: 8.6 ly

Map locating star system
g See stellar map (listed as “36 Oph”)

Location in Earth sky
g In the southernmost part of Constellation Ophiuchus, the Serpent Holder or Snake Charmer, south of Theta Ophiuchi

Other names
g A: GJ 663 A
g A: HD 155886
g A: LHS 437
g A: 36 Oph A
g A: HR 6402
g A: CD-26 12026
g A: CP(D)-26 5858
g A: SAO 185198
g A-B-C: ADS 10417 ABC
g A-B: Hip 84405
g B: HD 155885
g B: GJ 663 B
g B: LHS 438
g B: 36 Oph B
g B: HR 6401
g B: HD 155885
g B: SAO 185199
g C: V2215 Ophiuchi
g C: GJ 664
g C: HD 156026
g C: Hip 84478
g C: LHS 439
g C: 36 Oph C
g C: Gl 663 C
g C: CD-26 12036
g C: CP(D)-26 5863
g C: SAO 185213

Sci-fi mentions
g Dune and other novels in the Dune universe by Frank Herbert. 36 Ophiuchi B is orbited by the planet Giedi Prime.
g Frontier: Elite II and Frontier: First Encounters, computer games. 36 Ophiuchi is a mining system. The population of the system is centered around the first moon of 36 Ophiuchi C.
g Military force sent there to "liberate" colony in G. David Nordley's story "To Climb a Flat Mountain"
g In the "Star Trek" universe, this star system is home to the planet Ophiuchus III, a colony world that was being settled in the late 23rd century. Women were scarce enough there that intergalactic rogue Harry Mudd saw an opportunity in bringing them in from other worlds, during "The Original Series" episode "Mudd's Women". In "The Animated Series" episode "Mudd's Passion", Harry Mudd once visited Ophiucus VI, where he conned two miners out of a year's supply of dilithium crystals using fake Federation vouchers. The two planets probably orbit Star C.

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