The traditional nameChara was originally applied to the "southern dog", but it later became used specifically to refer to Beta Canum Venaticorum. Chara(χαρά) means 'joy' inGreek[15] but ‘dear’ or ’beloved’ in Latin.[16] In 2016, theInternational Astronomical Union organized aWorking Group on Star Names (WGSN)[17] to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN's first bulletin of July 2016[18] included a table of the first two batches of names approved by the WGSN; which includedChara for this star.
Beta CVn has astellar classification of G0 V, and so is aG-type main-sequence star. Since 1943, thespectrum of this star has served as one of the stable anchor points by which other stars are classified.[21] The spectrum of this star shows a very weakemission line of singlyionized calcium (Ca II) from thechromosphere, making it a useful reference star for a reference spectrum to compare with other stars in a similar spectral category.[22] (The Ca-II emission lines are readily accessible and can be used to measure the level of activity in a star's chromosphere.)
Beta CVn is considered to be slightly metal-poor,[8] which means it has a somewhat lower portion of elements heavier thanhelium when compared to the Sun. In terms of mass, age and evolutionary status, however, this star is very similar to the Sun.[23] As a result, it has been called asolar analog. It is about 3% less massive than the Sun,[2] with a radius 3% larger than the Sun's and 25% greater luminosity.[7][8]
The components of this star'sspace velocity are(U, V, W) =(–25, 0, +2) km/s.[23] In the past it was suggested that it may be aspectroscopic binary. However, further analysis of the data does not seem to bear that out.[24] In addition, a 2005 search for abrown dwarf in orbit around this star failed to discover any such companion, at least down to the sensitivity limit of the instrument used.[25]
In 2006, astronomerMargaret Turnbull labeled Beta CVn as the top stellar system candidate to search forextraterrestrial life forms.[26] Because of its solar-type properties, astrobiologists have listed it among the most astrobiologically interesting stars within 10 parsecs of the Sun.[23] However, as of 2009, this star is not known to host planets.[2]
^Keenan, Philip C.; McNeil, Raymond C. (1989). "The Perkins catalog of revised MK types for the cooler stars".Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series.71: 245.Bibcode:1989ApJS...71..245K.doi:10.1086/191373.
^Kunitzsch, Paul; Smart, Tim (2006).A Dictionary of Modern star Names: A Short Guide to 254 Star Names and Their Derivations (2nd rev. ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Sky Pub.ISBN978-1-931559-44-7.
^Morbey, C. L.; Griffin, R. F. (1987). "On the reality of certain spectroscopic orbits".Astrophysical Journal, Part 1.317:343–352.Bibcode:1987ApJ...317..343M.doi:10.1086/165281.
