Type: Binary
Location from Earth: Constellation Scorpio, Xi A & B
Distance: 80 lightyears
Class:  F5-IV subgiants
Average Separation: 18 AU (2.6928 x 10¹² meters) (Similar to distance between Uranus and Sun)
3rd Component:  dG7 Orange dwarf, magnitude 7.2, slow retrograde orbit with period of 1000 years around both Xi A & B.

ZETA (Xi A)
Absolute Magnitude: 2.9 (~5x Sun)
Surface Temperature : 6800K
Mass : 2.88×10³⁰ kg
Luminosity : 1.95×10³⁴ erg sec^-1
Radius : 1.131×10⁶ km

ZINNI (Xi B)
Absolute Magnitude: 3.1
Surface Temperature : 6500K
Mass : 2.66×10³⁰ kg
Luminosity : 1.87×10³⁴ erg sec^-1
Radius : 1.213×10⁶ km

BINARY SYSTEM DYNAMICS:

In any binary system, the two components orbit each other. Essentially, Zinni completes an orbit around Zeta approximately every 45.69 years.  This adds to the instability of Cyraria and explains why the planet’s orbit can change from an ellipse around one or both to an lemniscate, which passes between the two in a figure “8” pattern.  Orbital changes result in violent planetary upheavals.  The seasons shown below are based on a stable system, which can be disrupted as a result of the orbital dynamics of the two stars.

HABITABLE PLANET: Cyraria
Surface Temperature Range: -53^oC/-64^oF to 101^oC/214^oF
Radius : 6.5×10⁶ m
Mass : 6.8×10²⁴ kg
Rotational Period: 26 hours
Axial Inclination from Vertical:  87^o
Gravitational Acceleration: 10.735 meters sec^-2

Distance to Zeta:
2.692×10⁸ km aphelion
1.904×10⁸ km perihelion
Semi-major axis: 2.02×10⁸ km
Eccentricity: .333
Period: 6880 days
Angular Size from Cyraria :
.48^o Perihelion
.12^o Aphelion

Distance to Zinni:
2.65×10⁸ aphelion
1.89×10⁸ perihelion
Semi-major axis (Zinni): 1.98×10⁸ km
Eccentricity: .326
Period: 7120 days
Angular Size from Cyraria:
.51^o Perihelion
.13^o Aphelion

Orbital Characteristics:
Double ellipse (lemniscate)
Entire Circuit: ~14,000 days

Seasons and Weather: (see details)
Total Seasons: 16
Temperature Range:  -51C/-60F to 101C/214F
Contiguous Length of Opposition:  778 days (Seasons 12 & 13)
Contiguous Length of Winter: 3058 days
Galactic Standard Year:  400 days

Satellite: NIFEIR
Orbital Period:  36 days
Radius: 2144.7 km
Avg distance from Cyraria: 1.46×10⁵ km
Composition:  Nickel (Ni), Iron (Fe), Iridium (Ir)

NOTE:  Xi A & B are actual stars in the constellation Scorpius.  The information provided was obtained from Burnham’s Celestial Handbook: An Observer’s Guide to the Universe Beyond the Solar System by Robert Burnham, Jr., Volume 3. New York, Dover Publications, Inc. 1978.  p. 1645, 1684-1686.

Cyraria is a hypothetical planet developed by the author.