Mu Leporis

Lore & Background

Mu Leporis has a stellar classification of B9 IV:HgMn, where the colon indicates an uncertain spectral value. The luminosity class IV suggests it is a subgiant that has exhausted core hydrogen and is evolving into a giant, but evolutionary models instead place it on the main sequence. The star has about 3.4 times the Sun's radius, 3.7 times the solar mass, and radiates 251 times the Sun's luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 12,800 K.

The star is a suspected Alpha² Canum Venaticorum variable with a period of 2.933 days. Its spectrum shows overabundances of mercury and manganese, as indicated by the HgMn suffix in its class. X-ray emission has been detected from a location at an angular separation of 0.93 arcseconds, which at the star's distance corresponds to a projected separation of 52 astronomical units. The X-ray source may be a stellar companion—either a pre-main-sequence star or a small, low-temperature star.

In Balinese astronomy, the constellation Lepus is known as Bade, a funeral tower used in the Ngaben cremation ceremony. The IAU Working Group on Star Names approved the name Bade for Mu Leporis. In Chinese astronomy, Mu Leporis forms with Epsilon Leporis the asterism Ping, representing a screen in front of a toilet.

Reader's Guide

Mu Leporis holds significance as a chemically peculiar star of the mercury-manganese type, a class that provides insight into atomic diffusion processes in stellar atmospheres. Its status as a suspected Alpha² Canum Venaticorum variable adds to its interest for studies of stellar pulsation and magnetic fields, though the variability remains unconfirmed. The detection of an X-ray source at a projected separation of 52 AU suggests the presence of a companion, which could be a young star or a low-mass object, offering a rare opportunity to study binary interactions in a system with an evolved main-sequence star. The star's uncertain evolutionary state—whether it is a subgiant or still on the main sequence—highlights the challenges in modeling intermediate-mass stars. Culturally, the star's name Bade, derived from Balinese tradition, reflects the intersection of modern astronomy with indigenous sky lore. Its Bayer designation and inclusion in Chinese asterisms further underscore its place in multiple astronomical traditions. The star's brightness and southern location make it accessible for amateur observation, and its peculiar spectrum invites further spectroscopic monitoring.

Did You Know?

• The star's spectrum shows overabundances of mercury and manganese.
• X-ray emission has been detected from a possible companion at a projected distance of 52 AU.
• The star is moving away from the Sun with a radial velocity of +27.7 km/s.