# Gamma Comae Berenices

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gamma_Comae_Berenices
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gamma_Comae_Berenices.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_Comae_Berenices
> Source revision: 1345159690
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Star in the constellation Coma Berenices

γ Comae Berenices γ Comae Berenices (circled) in the constellation Coma Berenices Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS) Constellation Coma Berenices Right ascension 12h 26m 56.27207s[1] Declination +28° 16′ 06.3211″[1] Apparent magnitude (V) 4.36[2] Characteristics Spectral type K1 III Fe0.5[3] U−B color index +1.16[2] B−V color index +1.13[2] R−I color index +0.51[4] Astrometry Radial velocity (Rv) +3.38±0.11[5] km/s Proper motion (μ) RA: −83.990 ± 0.418[6] mas/yr Dec.: −82.216 ± 0.345[6] mas/yr Parallax (π) 19.2552±0.2371 mas[6] Distance 169 ± 2 ly (51.9 ± 0.6 pc) Absolute magnitude (MV) 0.76[7] Details[8] Mass 1.65±0.18 M☉ Radius 12.01+0.36 −0.34[9] R☉ Luminosity 61.4±3.3[9] L☉ Surface gravity (log g) 2.53±0.05 cgs Temperature 4,660±84[9] K Metallicity [Fe/H] 0.16±0.10 dex Rotational velocity (v sin i) ≤ 17[4] km/s Age 2.72±0.78 Gyr Other designations γ Com, 15 Comae Berenices, BD+29°2288, FK5 2999, GC 16964, HD 108381, HIP 60742, HR 4737, SAO 82313, PPM 101903[10] Database references SIMBAD data

**Gamma Comae Berenices**, [Latinized](/source/Latinisation_of_names) from γ Comae Berenices, is a single,[11] orange-hued [star](/source/Star) in the northern [constellation](/source/Constellation) of [Coma Berenices](/source/Coma_Berenices_(constellation)). It is faintly visible to the naked eye, having an [apparent visual magnitude](/source/Apparent_visual_magnitude) of 4.36.[2] Based upon an annual [parallax shift](/source/Stellar_parallax) of 19.50 [mas](/source/Milliarcsecond) as seen from Earth, its distance can be estimated as around 167 [light years](/source/Light_year) from the [Sun](/source/Sun). The star is moving away from the Sun with a [radial velocity](/source/Radial_velocity) of +3 km/s.[5]

This is an [evolved](/source/Stellar_evolution) [K-type](/source/K-type_star) [giant star](/source/Giant_star) with a [stellar classification](/source/Stellar_classification) of K1 III Fe0.5.[3] The suffix notation indicates the star displays an overabundance of iron in its [spectrum](/source/Spectrum). It is most likely (91% chance) on the [horizontal branch](/source/Horizontal_branch) with an age of 2.7 billion years. If this is true, then it has an estimated 1.65 times the [mass of the Sun](/source/Mass_of_the_Sun) and has expanded to nearly 12 times the [Sun's radius](/source/Sun's_radius). The star is radiating 58 times the [Sun's luminosity](/source/Sun's_luminosity) from its enlarged [photosphere](/source/Photosphere) at an [effective temperature](/source/Effective_temperature) of around 4,652 K.[8] Gamma Comae Berenices appears as part of the [Coma Star Cluster](/source/Coma_Star_Cluster), although it is probably not actually a member of this cluster.[12]

R. H. Allen's *[Star Names](/source/Star_Names)* attributes the name *Al Ḍafīrah* to this star, from an Arabic name for the Coma Star Cluster.[13] In [Chinese astronomy](/source/Chinese_astronomy), it is identified as *Lángwèiyī* (郎位一), meaning it is the first star of the asterism *Lángwèi* (郎位, Officers of the Imperial Guard).[14][15]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-vanLeeuwen2007_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-vanLeeuwen2007_1-1) van Leeuwen, F. (2007), "Validation of the new Hipparcos reduction", *Astronomy and Astrophysics*, **474** (2): 653–664, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[0708.1752](https://arxiv.org/abs/0708.1752), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2007A&A...474..653V](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007A&A...474..653V), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361:20078357](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%3A20078357), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [18759600](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:18759600).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-haupt1974_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-haupt1974_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-haupt1974_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-haupt1974_2-3) Haupt, H. F.; Schroll, A. (1974), "Photoelektrische Photometrie von Shell-Sternen", *Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series*, **15**: 311, [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1974A&AS...15..311H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1974A&AS...15..311H).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-perkins1989_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-perkins1989_3-1) Keenan, Philip C; McNeil, Raymond C (1989), "The Perkins catalog of revised MK types for the cooler stars", *Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series*, **71**: 245, [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1989ApJS...71..245K](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1989ApJS...71..245K), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1086/191373](https://doi.org/10.1086%2F191373).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bsc1_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bsc1_4-1) Hoffleit, D.; Warren, Jr., W. H., ["HR 4737 database entry"](http://webviz.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-5?-out.add=.&-source=V/50/catalog&recno=4737), *The Bright Star Catalogue* (5th Revised (Preliminary Version) ed.)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aaa430_165_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aaa430_165_5-1) Famaey, B.; et al. (January 2005), "Local kinematics of K and M giants from CORAVEL/Hipparcos/Tycho-2 data. Revisiting the concept of superclusters", *Astronomy and Astrophysics*, **430** (1): 165–186, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[astro-ph/0409579](https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0409579), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2005A&A...430..165F](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2005A&A...430..165F), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361:20041272](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%3A20041272), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [17804304](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:17804304)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Gaia-DR2_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Gaia-DR2_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Gaia-DR2_6-2) [Brown, A. G. A.](/source/Anthony_Brown_(scientist)); et al. ([Gaia collaboration](/source/Data_Processing_and_Analysis_Consortium)) (August 2018). ["*Gaia* Data Release 2: Summary of the contents and survey properties"](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F201833051). *[Astronomy & Astrophysics](/source/Astronomy_%26_Astrophysics)*. **616**. A1. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1804.09365](https://arxiv.org/abs/1804.09365). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2018A&A...616A...1G](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018A&A...616A...1G). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361/201833051](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F201833051). [Gaia DR2 record for this source](https://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-S?Gaia%20DR2%204009317512294635008) at [VizieR](/source/VizieR).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-aaa454_3_943_7-0)** Hekker, S.; et al. (August 2006), "Precise radial velocities of giant stars. I. Stable stars", *Astronomy and Astrophysics*, **454** (3): 943–949, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[astro-ph/0604502](https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0604502), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2006A&A...454..943H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2006A&A...454..943H), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361:20064946](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%3A20064946), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [119529768](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:119529768)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Reffert2015_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Reffert2015_8-1) Reffert, Sabine; et al. (2015), "Precise radial velocities of giant stars. VII. Occurrence rate of giant extrasolar planets as a function of mass and metallicity", *Astronomy and Astrophysics*, **574A** (2): 116–129, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1412.4634](https://arxiv.org/abs/1412.4634), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2015A&A...574A.116R](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015A&A...574A.116R), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361/201322360](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F201322360), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [59334290](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:59334290).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Baines2018_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Baines2018_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Baines2018_9-2) Baines, Ellyn K.; et al. (2018), "Fundamental Parameters of 87 Stars from the Navy Precision Optical Interferometer", *The Astronomical Journal*, **155** (1), 30, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1712.08109](https://arxiv.org/abs/1712.08109), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2018AJ....155...30B](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018AJ....155...30B), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3847/1538-3881/aa9d8b](https://doi.org/10.3847%2F1538-3881%2Faa9d8b), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [119427037](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:119427037).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sb0_10-0)** [* gam Com -- Star in Cluster](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=gamma+comae+berenices), database entry, [SIMBAD](/source/SIMBAD). Accessed on line October 12, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Eggleton2008_11-0)** Eggleton, P. P.; Tokovinin, A. A. (September 2008), "A catalogue of multiplicity among bright stellar systems", *[Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society](/source/Monthly_Notices_of_the_Royal_Astronomical_Society)*, **389** (2): 869–879, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[0806.2878](https://arxiv.org/abs/0806.2878), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2008MNRAS.389..869E](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2008MNRAS.389..869E), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.13596.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2966.2008.13596.x), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [14878976](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:14878976).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Tonkin, Stephen F. (2007), [*Binocular astronomy*](https://archive.org/details/binocularastrono0000tonk/page/124), Springer, p. [124](https://archive.org/details/binocularastrono0000tonk/page/124), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84628-308-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84628-308-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-allen1899_13-0)** Allen, R. H. (1899), [*Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning*](https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Topics/astronomy/_Texts/secondary/ALLSTA/Coma_Berenices*.html), p. 171

1. **[^](#cite_ref-AEEA_14-0)** ["AEEA 天文教育資訊網"](https://web.archive.org/web/20231201201450/http://aeea.nmns.edu.tw/2006/0606/ap060621.html) [Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy] (in Chinese). Archived from [the original](http://aeea.nmns.edu.tw/2006/0606/ap060621.html) on 1 December 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ASE_15-0)** ["Langwei (郎位)"](https://ase.exopla.net/index.php/Langwei). *All Skies Encyclopaedia*. [IAU Working Group on Star Names](/source/IAU_Working_Group_on_Star_Names). Retrieved 1 August 2025.

v t e Constellation of Coma Berenices List of stars in Coma Berenices Coma Berenices in Chinese astronomy Stars Bayer α (Diadem) β γ Flamsteed 7 11 12 13 14 16 17 21 23 (Phyllon Kissinou) 24 31 35 36 37 41 Variable FK GP IN LW HR 4668 HD 107146 108863 108874 110067 114762 b 115404 116029 Other 2MASS J12195156+3128497 KELT-6 WASP-56 WISE 1217+1626 Exoplanets HD 108874 b c KELT-6b Star clusters Coma Star Cluster Messier 53 NGC 4147 NGC 5053 Nebulae LoTr 5 Galaxies Messier 64 (Black Eye Galaxy) 85 88 91 98 99 100 NGC 4014 4015 4017 4053 4056 4060 4061 4065 4066 4070 4072 4074 4076 4084 4086 4089 4090 4091 4092 4093 4095 4098 4136 4146 4150 4162 4185 4189 4203 4211 4212 4213 4222 4237 4245 4253 4262 4274 4278 4293 4298 4302 4308 4310 4312 4314 4323 4328 4340 4359 4375 4383 4393 4394 4414 4419 4448 4450 4455 4459 4468 4473 4474 4475 4477 4479 4489 4494 4495 4498 4502 4506 4515 4516 4523 4525 4540 4555 4556 4558 4559 4561 4565 4571 4585 4595 4611 4614 4615 4633 4634 4651 4659 4670 4673 4676 (Mice Galaxies) 4689 4692 4710 4712 4725 4747 4839 4848 4860 4869 4871 4872 4873 4874 4875 4876 4881 4883 4886 4889 4892 4895 4907 4911 4919 4921 4944 5000 5004 5012 5032 5056 5172 Other 3C 275.1 3C 287 Arp 60 Coma Berenices Dragonfly 44 IC 755 (NGC 4019) IC 831 IC 860 IC 3505 IC 3528 IC 4040 IC 4051 IOK-1 IRAS F12032+1707 LEDA 83677 M85-HCC1 Malin 1 PGC 44691 PKS 1155+251 PKS 1222+216 VIRGOHI21 ZwCl 1305.4+2941 BCG Galaxy clusters Abell 1413 Coma I Coma Cluster Coma Supercluster M94 Group NGC 4065 Group NGC 4631 Group Astronomical events GRB 050509B iPTF14atg SN 1940B SN 1979C SN 2005ap SN 2006X SN 2020oi Category

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gamma Comae Berenices](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_Comae_Berenices) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamma_Comae_Berenices?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.