Van Maanen's Star
Encyclopedia : V : VA : VAN : Van Maanen's Star
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|} Van Maanen's Star is a white dwarf, the second such star discovered and the third closest one to the Sun after Sirius B and Procyon B. It is located 14.4 light years from the Sun in the constellation Pisces, and has a relatively high proper motion of 2.98" annually. It is far too faint to be seen with the naked eye.Its mass is about 7/10 that of the Sun, but its diameter and brightness are far less.
It was discovered in 1917 by Adriaan Van Maanen.
Van Maanen's Star in fiction
In David Braben's computer game Frontier, the Van Maanen's Star system is the home of a radical religious sect that believes in suffering as the key to salvation. Mining is done without machines, and any surplus money that is not needed to satisfy basic requirements like oxygen, food and water is burned in a sacred ceremony. The system is only accessible with a special permit.
In Larry Niven's 1976 novel A World Out of Time, Van Maanen's Star is the first target intended for protagonist Jerome Corbell's terraforming loop.
See also
External link
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