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'''Groombridge 34''' is a binary star system located around 11.6 light years from our [[Sun]].  The system is located in the constellation [[Andromeda_(constellation)|Andromeda]], northwest of the [[Andromeda galaxy]].  Neither star is visible in the night sky to the unaided eye with Groombridge 34 A having an apparent magnitude of 8.09 and Groombridge 34 B of only 11.06.  Both stars of the Groombridge 34 AB system are [[flare star|flare stars]] and therefore also have the variable star designation of '''GX Andromedae''' and '''GQ Andromedae''' respectively.<ref>http://www.richweb.f9.co.uk/astro/nearby_stars.htm#WDS_GRB34</ref>

'''Groombridge 34''' is a binary star system located around 11.6 light years from our [[Sun]].  The system is located in the constellation [[Andromeda_(constellation)|Andromeda]], northwest of the [[Andromeda galaxy]].  Neither star is visible in the night sky to the unaided eye, with Groombridge 34 A having an apparent magnitude of 8.09 and Groombridge 34 B an apparent magnitude of only 11.06.  Both stars of the Groombridge 34 AB system are [[flare star|flare stars]] and therefore also have the variable star designation of '''GX Andromedae''' and '''GQ Andromedae''' respectively.<ref>http://www.richweb.f9.co.uk/astro/nearby_stars.htm#WDS_GRB34</ref>

The binary star system was first mentioned in "A Catalog of Circumpolar Stars" by [[Stephen Groombridge]], published after his death in 1838. <ref>http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/G/Groombridge_34.html</ref> In 1860 it was discovered the system has a large proper motion relative to our own solar system.<ref>http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/Starlog/grm34.html</ref>

The binary star system was first mentioned in "A Catalog of Circumpolar Stars" by [[Stephen Groombridge]], published after his death in 1838. <ref>http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/G/Groombridge_34.html</ref> In 1860 it was discovered the system has a large proper motion relative to our own solar system.<ref>http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/Starlog/grm34.html</ref>

==Groombridge 34 A==

==Groombridge 34 A==

'''Groombridge 34 A''' is the more massive of the pair and is a main sequence [[red dwarf]] of the spectral class M1.5 Vne.  The star has around 48.6 percent of the Sun's mass and 34 perfect of its diameter.<ref name="recons>http://joy.chara.gsu.edu/RECONS/TOP100.posted.htm</ref>  The star is very dim, with only 64/10,000th of the Sun's visual luminosity. <ref name="de">http://jumk.de/astronomie/near-stars/groombridge-34.shtml</ref> It is estimated that Groombridge 34 A is on average, some 157 AU from its companion with an orbital period of around 3,000 years.

'''Groombridge 34 A''' is the more massive of the pair and is a main sequence [[red dwarf]] of the spectral class M1.5 Vne.  The star has around 48.6 percent of the Sun's mass and 34 percent of its diameter.<ref name="recons>http://joy.chara.gsu.edu/RECONS/TOP100.posted.htm</ref>  The star is very dim, with only 64/10,000th of the Sun's visual luminosity. <ref name="de">http://jumk.de/astronomie/near-stars/groombridge-34.shtml</ref> It is estimated that Groombridge 34 A is, on average, some 157 AU from its companion, with an orbital period of around 3,000 years.

==Groombridge 34 B==

==Groombridge 34 B==

'''Groombridge 34 B''' is cooler and dimmer then its companion with a spectral class M3.5 Vne.  It has some 16.3 percent of our Sun's mass and 19 percent of its diameter.<ref name="recons">http://joy.chara.gsu.edu/RECONS/TOP100.posted.htm</ref>  The star is only some 42/10,000th as visually luminous as our Sun.<ref name="de">http://jumk.de/astronomie/near-stars/groombridge-34.shtml</ref>

'''Groombridge 34 B''' is cooler and dimmer then its companion with a spectral class of M3.5 Vne.  It has some 16.3 percent of our Sun's mass and 19 percent of its diameter.<ref name="recons">http://joy.chara.gsu.edu/RECONS/TOP100.posted.htm</ref>  The star is only some 42/10,000th as visually luminous as our Sun.<ref name="de">http://jumk.de/astronomie/near-stars/groombridge-34.shtml</ref>

Thus far no substellar companions have been located around either star of the Groombridge 34 system.<ref>http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=2000AJ....119..906S&db_key=AST&high=38e0b7728703440</ref> For an [[Terrestrial planet|Earth-like]] world to be comfortable with liquid [[water]] on the surface, it would have to be around 0.25 AU for Groombridge 34 A and 0.13 for Groombridge 34 B respectively when taking in account [[infrared]] [[radiation]].  However if such a world exists, it would be very difficult for life to exist there as both stars in the Groombridge 34 system are [[flare star|flare stars]].  At the distance needed for liquid water to exist, the world would be exposed up to 10,000 times the normal [[X-ray]] output during a flare, which would be deadly to life as we know it.

Thus far no substellar companions have been located around either star of the Groombridge 34 system.<ref>http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=2000AJ....119..906S&db_key=AST&high=38e0b7728703440</ref> For an [[Terrestrial planet|Earth-like]] world to be comfortable with liquid [[water]] on the surface, it would have to be around 0.25 AU from Groombridge 34 A and 0.13 from Groombridge 34 B when taking into account [[infrared]] [[radiation]].  However, if such a world exists, it would be very difficult for life to exist there as both stars in the Groombridge 34 system are [[flare star|flare stars]].  At the distance needed for liquid water to exist, the world would be exposed up to 10,000 times the normal [[X-ray]] output during a flare, which would be deadly to life as we know it.

[[Category:Astronomy]]

[[Category:Astronomy]]