The variable radial velocity of the brighter component was first observed by H. A. Abt in 1961. It is a double-lined spectroscopic binary system with an orbital period of 27.2 days and an eccentricity of 0.74.[6] They have a combined magnitude of 4.71. Both components are similar stars with a combined stellar classification of kA2hA5VmA5, and one or both are Am stars.[3] The fainter component has an 82.8 year orbit with the brighter pair at an eccentricity of 0.45,[7] and is itself binary, making the system a quadruple.[8] The system is a source for X-ray emission.[12]
This system forms part of the Upsilon Ophiuchi cluster, a small group of six stars which share similar kinematics and are spread over about eight degrees. The two brightest stars, apart from Upsilon Ophiuchi itself, are sometimes listed as components B and C: B is HD 148300, and C is HD 144660.[8] Both are 9th-magnitude K-class dwarfs.[13]
Notelist
^ abcdCalculated using angular diameters (0.37, 0.33, 0.20 and 0.16 milliarcseconds) and a distance of 39.9 parsecs via the equation R/R☉ = (107.5 • 𝜃 • d)/1000, where 𝜃 is the angular diameter and d is the distance.
^ abMallama, A. (2014). "Sloan Magnitudes for the Brightest Stars". The Journal of the American Association of Variable Star Observers. 42 (2): 443. Bibcode:2014JAVSO..42..443M.Vizier catalog entry
^ abGutmann, F. (1965). "A study of the spectroscopic binary 3nu Ophiuchi (HD 148367)". Publications of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory Victoria. 12: 391–399. Bibcode:1965PDAO...12..391G.
^Hoffleit, D.; Warren, W. H. (1995). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: Bright Star Catalogue, 5th Revised Ed. (Hoffleit+, 1991)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: V/50. Originally Published in: 1964BS....C......0H. 5050. Bibcode:1995yCat.5050....0H.
^Kharchenko, N. V. (2001). "All-sky compiled catalogue of 2.5 million stars". Kinematika I Fizika Nebesnykh Tel. 17 (5): 409. Bibcode:2001KFNT...17..409K.