Theta Aurigae

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Theta Aurigae (θ Aur / θ Aurigae) is a binary star in the constellation Auriga. It is approximately 173 light years from Earth. One possible proper name for this star is Maha-Sim or Mahasim, which is a variant of the Arabic name Al-Mi'sam meaning "wrist" that was used to describe both Eta Aurigae and Theta Aurigae (http://www.winshop.com.au/annew/maasym.html).

The primary, θ Aurigae A, is a white A-type main sequence dwarf with an apparent magnitude of +2.7. It's companion, θ Aurigae B, is a yellow G-type main sequence dwarf with an apparent magnitude of +7.2. The two stars are separated by 3.5 arcseconds. A third star, the 11th magnitude θ Aurigae C, is 49 arcseconds away, and is an optical companion.

The mean combined apparent magnitude of the system is +2.65 but the primary is an Alpha2 Canum Venaticorum type variable star so the system's brightness varies from magnitude +2.62 to +2.70 with a period of 1.37 days.

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