# Saiph

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Blue supergiant in the constellation of Orion

Saiph Location of Saiph (circled) Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 Constellation Orion Right ascension 05h 47m 45.38884s[1] Declination −09° 40′ 10.5777″[1] Apparent magnitude (V) 2.09[2] Characteristics Evolutionary stage Blue supergiant[3] Spectral type B0.5 Ia[4] U−B color index −1.02[2] B−V color index −0.18[2] Variable type Suspected[5] Astrometry Radial velocity (Rv) +20.5[6] km/s Proper motion (μ) RA: +1.46[1] mas/yr Dec.: −1.28[1] mas/yr Parallax (π) 5.04±0.22 mas[1] Distance 650 ± 30 ly (198 ± 9 pc) Absolute magnitude (MV) −6.1[7] Details Mass 15.5±1.25[8] or 21.1[9] M☉ Radius 13–14[3] R☉ Luminosity 60,300+10,500 −9,000[3] L☉ Surface gravity (log g) 2.70±0.05[3] cgs Temperature 25,700±260[3] K Rotational velocity (v sin i) 83[7] km/s Age 11.1±0.5[10] or 5.6[9] Myr Other designations κ Orionis, 53 Orionis, 141 G. Orionis, BD−09 1235, FK5 220, HD 38771, HIP 27366, HR 2004, SAO 132542.[11] Database references SIMBAD data

**Saiph** [/ˈseɪf/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English), designation **Kappa Orionis** (**κ Orionis**, abbreviated **Kappa Ori**, **κ Ori**) and **53 Orionis** (**53 Ori**), is a [blue supergiant](/source/Blue_supergiant) star and the sixth-brightest [star](/source/Star) in the [constellation](/source/Constellation) of [Orion](/source/Orion_(constellation)). Of the four bright stars that compose Orion's main quadrangle, it is the star at the south-eastern corner. A northern-hemisphere observer facing south would see it at the lower left of Orion, and a southern-hemisphere observer facing north would see it at the upper right. [Parallax](/source/Parallax) measurements yield an estimated distance of 650 [light-years](/source/Light-year) (200 [parsecs](/source/Parsec)) from the [Sun](/source/Sun).[1] It is smaller, less luminous but hotter at its surface than [Rigel](/source/Rigel) with an [apparent visual magnitude](/source/Apparent_visual_magnitude) of 2.1.[2] The luminosity of this star changes slightly, varying by 0.04 magnitudes.[5]

## Nomenclature

*Kappa Orionis* is the star's [Bayer designation](/source/Bayer_designation) and *53 Orionis* its [Flamsteed designation](/source/Flamsteed_designation). The traditional name *Saiph* is from the [Arabic](/source/Arabic) *saif al jabbar*, 'سیف الجبّار', literally *[saif](/source/Arab_sword) of the [giant](/source/Giant)*. This name was originally applied to [Eta Orionis](/source/Eta_Orionis).[12] In 2016, the [International Astronomical Union](/source/International_Astronomical_Union) organized a [Working Group on Star Names](/source/IAU_Working_Group_on_Star_Names) (WGSN)[13] to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN's first bulletin of July 2016[14] included a table of the first two batches of names approved by the WGSN, which included *Saiph* for this star. It is now so entered in the IAU Catalog of Star Names.[15]

In the 17th-century catalogue of stars in the *Calendarium* of [Al Achsasi al Mouakket](/source/Al_Achsasi_al_Mouakket), this star was designated *Rekbah al Jauza al Yemeniat*, which was translated into [Latin](/source/Latin) as *Genu Dextrum Gigantis* "right knee of the giant".[16]

## Properties

Saiph is a [supergiant](/source/Supergiant) with a [stellar classification](/source/Stellar_classification) of B0.5 Ia. The [luminosity class](/source/Luminosity_class) 'Ia' represents a [bright supergiant](/source/Bright_supergiant) star that has exhausted the supply of hydrogen at its core and [evolved](/source/Stellar_evolution) away from the [main sequence](/source/Main_sequence). Saiph has a strong [stellar wind](/source/Stellar_wind) and is losing mass at the rate of 9.0 × 10−7 times the mass of the Sun per year, or the equivalent of the Sun's mass every 1.1 million years.[7] Using a combination of parallax as determined by [Hipparcos](/source/Hipparcos) and the [spectrum](/source/Stellar_spectrum) yields a mass 15.50 ± 1.25 times and luminosity 56,881 times that of the Sun.[8] Analysis of the spectra and age of the members of the Orion OB1 association yields a mass 28 times that of the Sun (from an original mass 31.8 times that of the Sun) and an age of 6.2 million years.[9] An analysis of the star's [spectral energy distribution](/source/Spectral_energy_distribution) using the Hipparcos distance give a luminosity of 60,000 L☉ and a radius of 13 *R*☉.[3] Large stars such as Saiph (and many other stars in Orion) are destined to collapse on themselves and explode as [supernovae](/source/Supernova).[17]

## In non-Western astronomy and culture

In [Chinese](/source/Chinese_astronomy), 參宿 (*Shēn Xiù*), meaning *[Three Stars](/source/Three_Stars_(Chinese_constellation)) (asterism)*, refers to an asterism consisting of Saiph, [Alnitak](/source/Alnitak), [Alnilam](/source/Alnilam), [Mintaka](/source/Mintaka), [Betelgeuse](/source/Betelgeuse), [Bellatrix](/source/Bellatrix) and [Rigel](/source/Rigel).[18] Consequently, the [Chinese name](/source/Chinese_star_names) for Saiph is 參宿六 (*Shēn Xiù Liù*, English: the Sixth Star of Three Stars).[19]

The [Wardaman people](/source/Wardaman_people) of northern Australia regard Saiph as the Guman digging stick, used to make a canyon by Black-headed Python.[20]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aaa474_2_653_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aaa474_2_653_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-aaa474_2_653_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-aaa474_2_653_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-aaa474_2_653_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-aaa474_2_653_1-5) van Leeuwen, F. (November 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-aj76_1058_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aj76_1058_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-aj76_1058_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-aj76_1058_2-3) Crawford, D. L.; Barnes, J. V.; Golson, J. C. (1971). "Four-color, H-beta, and UBV photometry for bright B-type stars in the northern hemisphere". *The Astronomical Journal*. **76**: 1058. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1971AJ.....76.1058C](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1971AJ.....76.1058C). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1086/111220](https://doi.org/10.1086%2F111220).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Haucke_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Haucke_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Haucke_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Haucke_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Haucke_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Haucke_3-5) Haucke, M.; Cidale, L. S.; Venero, R. O. J.; Curé, M.; Kraus, M.; Kanaan, S.; Arcos, C. (2018-06-01). ["Wind properties of variable B supergiants - Evidence of pulsations connected with mass-loss episodes"](https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2018/06/aa31678-17/aa31678-17.html). *Astronomy & Astrophysics*. **614**: A91. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1902.01341](https://arxiv.org/abs/1902.01341). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2018A&A...614A..91H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018A&A...614A..91H). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361/201731678](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F201731678). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0004-6361](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0004-6361).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mk_4-0)** Morgan, W. W.; Keenan, P. C. (1973). "Spectral Classification". *Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics*. **11** (1): 29–50. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1973ARA&A..11...29M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1973ARA&A..11...29M). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1146/annurev.aa.11.090173.000333](https://doi.org/10.1146%2Fannurev.aa.11.090173.000333).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aaa507_2_11411201_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aaa507_2_11411201_5-1) Lefèvre, L.; et al. (November 2009). ["A systematic study of variability among OB-stars based on HIPPARCOS photometry"](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F200912304). *Astronomy and Astrophysics*. **507** (2): 11411201. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2009A&A...507.1141L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009A&A...507.1141L). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361/200912304](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F200912304).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-scfs_6-0)** Wielen, R.; et al. (1999). "Sixth Catalogue of Fundamental Stars (FK6). Part I. Basic fundamental stars with direct solutions". *Veröff. Astron. Rechen-Inst. Heidelb*. **35** (35). Astronomisches Rechen-Institut Heidelberg: 1. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1999VeARI..35....1W](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1999VeARI..35....1W).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aaa446_1_279_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aaa446_1_279_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-aaa446_1_279_7-2) Crowther, P. A.; Lennon, D. J.; Walborn, N. R. (January 2006). "Physical parameters and wind properties of galactic early B supergiants". *Astronomy and Astrophysics*. **446** (1): 279–293. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[astro-ph/0509436](https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0509436). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2006A&A...446..279C](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2006A&A...446..279C). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361:20053685](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%3A20053685). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [18815761](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:18815761).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-an331_4_349_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-an331_4_349_8-1) Hohle, M. M.; Neuhäuser, R.; Schutz, B. F. (April 2010). "Masses and luminosities of O- and B-type stars and red supergiants". *Astronomische Nachrichten*. **331** (4): 349. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1003.2335](https://arxiv.org/abs/1003.2335). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2010AN....331..349H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010AN....331..349H). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1002/asna.200911355](https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fasna.200911355). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [111387483](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:111387483).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Voss_2010_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Voss_2010_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Voss_2010_9-2) Voss, R.; Diehl, R.; Vink, J. S.; Hartmann, D. H. (2010). "Probing the evolving massive star population in Orion with kinematic and radioactive tracers". *Astronomy and Astrophysics*. **520**: 10. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1005.3827](https://arxiv.org/abs/1005.3827). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2010A&A...520A..51V](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010A&A...520A..51V). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361/201014408](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F201014408). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [38599952](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:38599952). A51.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mnras410_1_190_10-0)** Tetzlaff, N.; Neuhäuser, R.; Hohle, M. M. (January 2011), "A catalogue of young runaway Hipparcos stars within 3 kpc from the Sun", *Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society*, **410** (1): 190–200, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1007.4883](https://arxiv.org/abs/1007.4883), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2011MNRAS.410..190T](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011MNRAS.410..190T), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17434.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2966.2010.17434.x), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [118629873](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:118629873)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SIMBAD_11-0)** ["SAIPH -- Variable Star"](http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=Kappa+Orionis). *SIMBAD*. Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2012-01-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-allen_12-0)** Allen, Richard Hinckley (1899). [*Star-names and their meanings*](https://books.google.com/books?id=5xQuAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA317). G. E. Stechert. p. 317.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WGSN_13-0)** ["IAU Working Group on Star Names (WGSN)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200423144448/https://www.iau.org/science/scientific_bodies/working_groups/280/). Archived from [the original](https://www.iau.org/science/scientific_bodies/working_groups/280/) on 23 April 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-WGSN1_14-0)** ["Bulletin of the IAU Working Group on Star Names, No. 1"](http://www.pas.rochester.edu/~emamajek/WGSN/WGSN_bulletin1.pdf) (PDF). Retrieved 28 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-IAU-CSN_15-0)** ["IAU Catalog of Star Names"](http://www.pas.rochester.edu/~emamajek/WGSN/IAU-CSN.txt). Retrieved 28 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Knobel, E. B. (June 1895). ["Al Achsasi Al Mouakket, on a catalogue of stars in the Calendarium of Mohammad Al Achsasi Al Mouakket"](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fmnras%2F55.8.429). *[Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society](/source/Monthly_Notices_of_the_Royal_Astronomical_Society)*. **55** (8): 429. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1895MNRAS..55..429K](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1895MNRAS..55..429K). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/mnras/55.8.429](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fmnras%2F55.8.429).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-kaler_17-0)** Kaler, James B., ["SAIPH (Kappa Orionis)"](http://stars.astro.illinois.edu/sow/saiph.html), *Stars*, University of Illinois, retrieved 2012-01-27

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** (in Chinese) *中國星座神話*, written by 陳久金. Published by 台灣書房出版有限公司, 2005, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-986-7332-25-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-986-7332-25-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** (in Chinese) [AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 5 月 25 日](http://aeea.nmns.edu.tw/2006/0605/ap060525.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110716122642/http://aeea.nmns.edu.tw/2006/0605/ap060525.html) 2011-07-16 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Harney, Bill Yidumduma; Cairns, Hugh C. (2004) [2003]. *Dark Sparklers* (Revised ed.). Merimbula, New South Wales: Hugh C. Cairns. p. 139. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9750908-0-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9750908-0-1).

v t e Constellation of Orion List of stars in Orion Orion in Chinese astronomy Orion molecular cloud complex Orion's Belt Orion's Sword Stars Bayer α (Betelgeuse) β (Rigel) γ (Bellatrix) δ (Mintaka) ε (Alnilam) ζ (Alnitak) η θ1 A B C D E θ2 ι (Hatysa) κ (Saiph) λ (Meissa) μ ν ξ ο1 ο2 π1 π2 π3 (Tabit) π4 π5 π6 ρ σ τ υ φ1 φ2 χ1 χ2 ψ1 ψ2 ω Flamsteed 5 6 (g) 11 13 14 (i) 15 16 (h) 18 21 22 (o) 23 (m) 27 (p) 29 (e) 31 32 (A) 33 35 38 42 (c) 45 49 (d) 51 (b) 52 55 56 57 59 60 63 64 66 68 69 (f1) 71 72 (f2) 73 74 (k) 75 (l) Variable S U W UX VV BF BM DN FU GW NU V380 V529 V883 V901 V1005 V1046 V1149 V1201 V1352 V1647 V2254 V2384 HR 1759 1763 1874 1887 1952 1988 2007 2024 2113 2251 2275 HD 33636 34445 37320 37605 42618 43317 290327 Other 4U 0614+091 CVSO 30 CWISE J0506+0738 Gliese 179 Gliese 205 Gliese 208 Gliese 221 GJ 3379 HOPS 383 LP 658-2 Mayrit 1701117 MWC 137 PDS 110 Proplyd 114-426 S Ori 70 WISE J0521+1025 YSO 244-440 Exoplanets Gliese 179 b HD 34445 b HD 37605 b HD 38529 b HD 290327 b Star clusters NGC 1662 1980 1981 2169 2175 2194 2202 Other Lambda Orionis Orion OB1 Trapezium (θ1) Nebulae NGC 1788 1990 1999 2022 2023 2064 2067 2071 2174 Other Orion Nebula Abell 12 Abell 13 Barnard 30 Barnard 35 Barnard's Loop Flame Nebula HH 1/2 HH 24-26 HH 34 HH 111 HH 222 Horsehead Nebula IC 434 IC 2118 Kleinmann–Low Nebula LDN 1641 McNeil's Nebula Messier 43 Messier 78 Orion Molecular Clouds Sh 2-264 Sh 2-279 Galaxies NGC 1683 1719 1762 1819 1924 2110 2119 Other 3C 135 4C +09.17 CGCG 396-002 II Zwicky 28 PKS 0458−020 PKS 0528+134 TXS 0506+056 Galaxy clusters Abell 520 Astronomical events GRB 970228 GRB 991216 Category

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