Menkalinan is the white star at the Charioteer’s shoulder, really two nearly identical stars that eclipse each other as they orbit.
At a glance
| type | white star (class A) |
|---|---|
| distance from the Sun | 81.1 light-years (24.9 pc) |
| its light left it | 81.1 years ago |
| luminosity | 107 × the Sun |
| radius | 4.27 × the Sun |
| surface temperature | 8,990 K |
| constellation | Auriga (Charioteer) |
Read off the piece’s own catalogue, the same values it draws with.
About Menkalinan
Menkalinan looks like a single white star, but it is a pair of similar hot white stars, larger and brighter than the Sun, circling each other closely. Their orbit is seen nearly edge on, so each passes in front of the other in turn, and the light dips slightly.
The name comes from Arabic for the shoulder of the rein-holder, the Charioteer. Menkalinan is the second-brightest star of Auriga after Capella, the pair marking the top of the pentagon.
What you see in the piece
Menkalinan and Capella are both close to the Sun compared with the rest of Auriga, so in the piece they stay together while the far corners of the pentagon recede.
Questions
What does Menkalinan mean?
Menkalinan comes from Arabic for the shoulder of the rein-holder, the Charioteer Auriga.
Is Menkalinan a binary star?
Yes. Menkalinan is a pair of similar white stars that eclipse each other as they orbit, making its light dip slightly.