Editing Beta Scorpii (section)

==Properties==
[[File:Guisard - Milky Way.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Image of [[Scorpius]] and the [[Milky Way]] with β Scorpii in the top right corner]]
The β Scorpii system is a kinematic member of the Upper Scorpius subgroup of the [[Scorpius–Centaurus association]], a group of thousands of young stars with mean age 11 million years at distance 470 light years (145 parsecs). Analysis of β<sup>1</sup> Scorpii as a single star derived an evolutionary age between 9 and 12 million years,<ref name="Pecaut"/> but analysis of the β Scorpii system as a whole suggest an age closer to 6 million years.<ref name=catanzaro/>

The two components of β Scorpii A are the most massive members of the system, {{solar mass|15|link=y}} and {{solar mass|10}} respectively. The combined spectral type is B1 V. The individual spectral types cannot be clearly measured, but are estimated to be B0.5 and B1.5. Component Aa is evolving slightly away from the [[zero age main sequence]] and its [[luminosity class]] is estimated to be intermediate between [[subgiant]] (IV) and [[main sequence]] (V). Component Ab has a main sequence luminosity class, a temperature of 26,400 K, and a luminosity of {{solar luminosity|7,900}}.

Component B is over 20 times fainter than the combined component A stars and a clear spectral type has not been measured. Its mass is estimated to be approximately {{solar mass|8}}.<ref name=vanflandern/>

Component C has a stellar classification of B2 V and a mass of {{solar mass|8}}. It has an [[effective temperature|effective surface temperature]] of 24,000 K, a radius of {{solar radius|2.9}} and a [[bolometric luminosity]] of {{solar luminosity|3,200}}.

Component E is determined to have a temperature of 13,000 K, radius of {{solar radius|2.4}}, and luminosity of {{solar luminosity|126}}. It is [[Chemically peculiar star|chemically peculiar]], with high abundances of [[manganese]] and [[strontium]]. It is possibly a [[Mercury-manganese star|mercury-manganese]] (HgMn) star, but abundances of other metals are unexpectedly low.<ref name=catanzaro/>

Beta Scorpii is 1.01 degree from the [[ecliptic]] and can be occulted by the [[Moon]] and, very rarely, by [[planet]]s. On December 9, 1906, it was occulted by [[Venus]].<ref name=Koennen1981/> The last [[occultation]] by a planet took place on 13 May 1971, by [[Jupiter]].<ref>{{cite journal |last= Bartholdi |first=P. |author2= Owen, F. |year=1972 |title= The Occultation of Beta Scorpii by Jupiter and Io. II. Io |journal= Astronomical Journal |volume= 77 |pages= 60–65 |bibcode= 1972AJ.....77...60B|doi = 10.1086/111245 }}
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