Castor
Product information
Description
Castor sparkles with a cool, white glow and forms the right 'head' of the Gemini twins. Paired with the warmer orange hue of Pollux, it’s a celestial duo that stands out vividly in the northern winter night sky.
Additional Information
- Constellation
- Gemini
- Spectral Type
- A1V + M5V + A2Vm
- Apparent Magnitude
- 1.58
- Distance (Light Years)
- 51.6
- Right Ascension
- 07h 34m 36.0s
- Declination
- +31° 53′ 18″
- Solar Masses
- 2.2
- Radius (Solar)
- 1.6
- Temperature (Kelvin)
- 9400
- Age (Million Years)
- 370
Discovery
- Ancient Civilizations
- Greeks, Romans, Babylonians
- Historical Significance
- Castor has been known since antiquity and was revered as one of the 'twin stars' in the constellation Gemini, paired with Pollux. It played a role in mythology and celestial calendars across multiple ancient civilizations.
Cultural Significance
- Mythology
- In Greek mythology, Castor and Pollux were the Dioscuri — twin brothers symbolizing loyalty and sacrifice. Castor, the mortal brother, was honored in the heavens alongside his immortal twin. Together, they were seen as protectors of sailors and patrons of brotherhood.
- Navigation
- Due to its brightness and prominent location in the winter sky, Castor has historically been used in navigation and star mapping by mariners and skywatchers alike.
- Modern Reference
- Castor is regularly featured in astronomy education due to its fascinating nature as a multiple star system, and its close proximity to Pollux, forming a distinctive twin pattern in Gemini.
Notable Features
- Stellar Motion
- Castor exhibits clear proper motion and lies relatively close to Earth. It is a member of the Castor Moving Group — a collection of stars with similar motion through space.
- Additional Fact
- Castor is a **sextuple star system**, made up of three pairs of binary stars orbiting each other — making it one of the most complex multiple star systems visible to the naked eye.
User Dedications
- Dedications
- This star has not been claimed yet. Be the first to dedicate it to someone special!