Gamma Delphini


Gamma Delphini, Latinized from γ Delphini, is a binary star system approximately 101 light-years away in the constellation of Delphinus. The star marks one corner of the asterism "Job's Coffin". It is one of the best known double stars in the sky, consisting of a fourth magnitude orange subgiant and a fifth magnitude yellow-white dwarf.

Stellar components

γ1 Delphini is a yellow-white dwarf star of spectral type "F7V" and an apparent magnitude of 5.14. The star is thought to be about 7 times more luminous than the Sun. γ2 Delphini is an orange subgiant star of spectral type "K1IV" and an apparent magnitude of 4.27. This star is thought to be about 20.6 times more luminous than the Sun.

Planetary system

In 1999, the presence of a planetary companion was inferred around Gamma2 Delphini, an evolved orange subgiant star. Such a planet would yield a minimum mass of 0.7 Jupiter masses, orbital period of 1.44 years and separation of nearly 1.5 astronomical units.
The planetary candidate has not been confirmed. McDonald Observatory researches have set mass limits for potential planetary companions in orbit around the star Gamma2 Delphini.