Theta Apodis [SEP] constellation
Theta Apodis
Theta Apodis (θ Aps, θ Apodis) is the Bayer designation for a star in the southern circumpolar constellation of Apus. It is a variable star with an apparent visual magnitude range of 4.65 to 6.20, which, according to the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale, means it is a faint star but visible to the naked eye from dark suburban skies. The distance to Theta Apodis is approximately , based upon parallax measurements made from the Gaia telescope. It is unusual in that it is a red star with
of times the mass of the Sun per year through its stellar wind. Dusty material ejected from this star is interacting with the surrounding interstellar medium, forming a bow shock as the star moves through the galaxy. The stand-off distance for this front is located at about from Theta Apodis.
Theta Apodis has been identified as an astrometric binary, indicating that it has an orbiting companion that causes gravitational perturbation of the primary star.