Gamma Apodis
# Gamma Apodis

Gamma Apodis (γ Aps, γ Apodis) is the Bayer designation for a star in the southern circumpolar constellation of Apus. From parallax measurements, the distance to this star can be estimated as 150 ± 4 light-years (46.0 ± 1.2 pc). It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.86. A stellar classification of G9 III identifies it as a giant star in the later stages of its evolution. It is an active X-ray source with a luminosity of 1.607 × $10^{30}$ erg $s^{−1},$ making it one of the 100 strongest stellar X-ray sources within 50 parsecs of the Sun.

## Naming

In Chinese caused by adaptation of the European southern hemisphere constellations into the Chinese system, 異雀 (Yì Què), meaning Exotic Bird, refers to an asterism consisting of γ Apodis, ζ Apodis, ι Apodis, β Apodis, δ Octantis, $δ^1$ Apodis, η Apodis, α Apodis and ε Apodis. Consequently, γ Apodis itself is known as 異雀四 (Yì Què sì, English: the Fourth Star of Exotic Bird).

