Beta Cephei variables

Spica is the brightest object in the constellation of Virgo and one of the 20 brightest stars in the night sky. It has the Bayer designation α Virginis, which is Latinised to Alpha Virginis and abbreviated Alpha Vir or α Vir. Analysis of its parallax shows that it is located 250 light-years from the Sun. It is a spectroscopic binary star and rotating ellipsoidal variable; a system whose two stars are so close together they are egg-shaped rather than spherical, and can only be separated by their spectra. The primary is a blue giant and a variable star of the Beta Cephei type.

star system in the southern constellation of Centaurus

star in the constellation Crux

star system in the constellation Scorpius

star in the constellation Canis Major

star in the constellation Cepheus

star in the constellation Taurus

type of variable star

variable star in the constellation Pegasus

star in the constellation Crux

star in the constellation Centaurus

star in the southern constellation of Lupus

star

star in the constellation Scorpius

star in the constellation Musca

star in the constellation Pyxis

variable star in the constellation Scorpius

star in the constellation Centaurus

star in the constellation Orion

star in the constellation Perseus

variable star in the constellation Lupus

star in the constellation Centaurus

star in the constellation Ophiuchus

spectroscopic binary star system in the constellation Orion

variable star in the constellation Canis Major

peculiar star

star in the constellation Aries

variable star in the constellation Cetus

variable star in the constellation Canis Major

star in the constellation Crux

variable star in the constellation Hydra

variable star in the constellation Canis Major

star in the constellation Crux

star in the constellation Cygnus

star in the constellation Carina

variable star in the constellation Monoceros

binary star system in the constellation Cassiopeia

star in the constellation Eridanus

star in the constellation Lacerta

eclipsing binary star system in the constellation Orion

star in the constellation Cygnus

variable star in the constellation Lupus

binary star system in the constellation Orion

star in the constellation Centaurus

star in the constellation Ophiuchus

binary star system in the constellation Camelopardalis

star

star in the constellation Pisces