Nu Boötis


The Bayer designation Nu Boötis is shared by two star systems, in the constellation Boötes:
They are separated by 0.17° on the sky. They have almost identical visual magnitudes, but contrasting colours: ν1 is a yellow giant star, while ν2 is a close binary with two white main sequence stars.
Both stars were members of asterism 七公, Seven Excellencies, Heavenly Market enclosure.
Ptolemy considered Nu Boötis to be shared by Hercules, and Bayer assigned it a designation in both constellations: Nu Boötis and Psi Herculis. When the modern constellation boundaries were fixed in 1930, the latter designation dropped from use.