Régulo vs Espiga
A 2.87-magnitude difference in absolute output separates them, −3.44 to −0.57. Régulo is the nearer of the two at 79.3 light-years, while Espiga lies 250 light-years away, some 3.1 times farther. By spectral type the pair divides into a B-type star in Leo for Régulo and a B-type star in Virgo for Espiga. To the unaided eye Espiga leads at magnitude +0.98 to +1.36, a gap of 0.38 worth about 1.4 times the light of Régulo.
Property comparison
| Property | Régulo | Espiga |
|---|---|---|
| Designação | 32Alp Leo | 67Alp Vir |
| Constelação | Leo | Virgo |
| Classe Espectral | Class B — B-type (Blue-White) | Class B — B-type (Blue-White) |
| Magnitude Aparente | +1.36 | +0.98 |
| Magnitude Absoluta | -0.57 | -3.44 |
| Distância | 79.3 ly | 250 ly |
| Massa | N/A | N/A |
| Raio | N/A | N/A |
| Temperatura | N/A | N/A |
| Luminosidade | N/A | N/A |
Full data for each star: Régulo · Espiga
Key differences
Key Differences
- ◆ Both are hot B-type stars lying close to or on the ecliptic, frequently occulted by the Moon.
- ◆ Spica is a spectroscopic binary with tidal distortion; Regulus is a fast-spinning quadruple system.
- ◆ Spica is about 250 light-years away; Regulus is closer at about 79 light-years.
- ◆ Spica's temperature (~25,300 K) is roughly twice that of Regulus (~12,460 K).
- ◆ Hipparchus used Spica observations to discover the precession of the equinoxes around 130 BCE.