Menkalinan is the β star in the constellation of Auriga
Menkalinan (Bayer designation β Aurigae) is a binary star, the second brightest star in the constellation Auriga. Menkalinan's apparent magnitude varies over a period of 3.96004 days between +1.85 and +1.93, as every 47.5 hours one of the stars partially eclipses the other from Earth's perspective. Menkalinan belongs to the spectral classification A2 and is 85 light years distant.
The name Menkalinan is shortened from the Arabic منكب ذي العنان mankib ðī-l-‘inān "shoulder of the rein-holder".
Last updated: 10-08-2005 11:40:11
