Stella Ludoviciana
Designations
- Henry Draper: HD 116798
Data
- Constellation: Ursa Major
- Apparent Magnitude: 7.58
- Right Ascension (J2000): 13h24m51.20s
- Declination (J2000): +54°45'09".0
- Colour Index (B-V): 0.26
- Distance: 297.59±0.81ly
Nomenclature
Stella Ludoviciana
The star was first catalogued by Italian mathematician and Benedictine monk Benedetto Castelli in 1616. However, unaware of this, German theologian and scientist Johann Georg Liebknecht catalogued it with proper motion relative to the nearby Mizar and Alcor, believing it to be planet. He named the new planet after Ludwig V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, resulting in the modern name Stella Ludoviciana. The star was variously known throughout history as Sidus Ludovicianum and Sidus Ludoviciana.