An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A → binary system consisting of two → massive stars, which are → supergiants of → spectral types O7.5 and O6. The two components are so close together that they orbit each other with a period of 14.4 days only. The Plaskett’s star is a → double-line binary. The estimated masses of the components are 43 (Plaskett A) and 51 (Plaskett B) → solar masses. The lower mass component is optically brighter than the other star. Also known as HR 2422 and HD 47129 (See, e.g., Bagnuolo et al. 1992, ApJ 385, 708).

See also: Named after the Canadian astronomer John S. Plaskett (1865-1941), who made a detailed spectroscopic study of this star in 1922.