AB Doradus

AB Doradus is a pre-main-sequence quadruple[5] star system in the constellation Dorado.

The primary is a flare star that shows periodic increases in activity.

The primary star in this system spins at a rate 50 times that of the Sun, and consequently has a strong magnetic field.

Measurements of the spin rate of this star at its equator have shown that it varies over time due to the effect of this magnetic field.

[18] However, recent evidence indicates that the star may actually be a binary system itself, consisting of two brown dwarfs, AB Doradus Ca/Cb, with 72 and 13 Jupiter masses, respectively.

A visual band light curve for AB Doradus. The main plot shows the long-term variability, and the inset shows the periodic variability (as of Oct/Nov 1989). Adapted from Innis et al. (2008) [ 2 ] and Anders (1990). [ 15 ]