Delta Andromedae

Delta Andromedae, Latinized from δ Andromedae, is a triple star system in the northern constellation of Andromeda. The system is visible to the naked eye as a point of light with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 3.28. Based upon parallax measurements, it is located at a distance of approximately 105.5 ly from the Sun. The system is drifting closer with a radial velocity of −10 km/s.

In Chinese, 奎宿 (Kuí Sù), meaning Legs (asterism), refers to an asterism consisting of δ Andromedae, η Andromedae, 65 Piscium, ζ Andromedae, ι Piscium, ε Andromedae, π Andromedae, ν Andromedae, μ Andromedae, β Andromedae, σ Piscium, τ Piscium, 91 Piscium, υ Piscium, φ Piscium, χ Piscium and ψ1 Piscium. Consequently, the Chinese name for δ Andromedae itself is 奎宿五 (Kuí Sù wǔ, the Fifth Star of Legs.)  Apart from its Bayer designation, it was also given the title Delta by Elijah H. Burritt in his star atlas.

This is a long-period spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of approximately 15,000 days (41 years). The primary of the spectroscopic binary, component Aa, has a stellar classification of K3 III, indicating that it is an aging giant star. It most likely evolved from a F-type main sequence star after consuming the hydrogen at its core. The secondary, component Ab, is a relatively faint K-type dwarf, which has been imaged using a stellar coronagraph. The pair have a physical separation of $−9.88$. The system has two companions, the closest of which is most likely an orbiting red dwarf of class M3 with a separation of at least 900 astronomical units.

An excess of infrared emission from δ Andromedae suggested that it may be surrounded by a shell of dust. In 2003 it was determined that this is more likely a circumstellar debris disk.