The distance of AH Scorpii is considered to be uncertain. VLBI measurements of the masers have provided an accurate distance of 2,260 parsecs based on observation of SiO, H2O, and OH masers in its oxygen-rich circumstellar material. The masers were observed to be approaching the star at 13 km/s, indicating overall contraction at around phase 0.55 of the visual variations.[6]
Characteristics
AH Scorpii is a dust-enshrouded red supergiant[10] and is classified as a semiregular variable star with a main period of 714 days. The total visual magnitude range is 6.5 - 9.6.[2] No long secondary periods have been detected.[11] Modelling of AH Scorpii near maximum light has determined an effective temperature of 3,682±190 K and a luminosity of 330,000±86,000 L☉. A radius of 1,411±124R☉ was determined from an angular diameter of 5.81±0.15 mas and the given distance of 2.26±0.19 kpc.[4] Its angular diameter was re-measured at 5.05±0.5 mas in 2023.[12]
^ abSamus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007-2013)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S. 1. Bibcode:2009yCat....102025S.
^Baudry, A.; Le Squeren, A. M.; Lepine, J. R. D. (1977). "The supergiant OH stars S Per and AH SCO - Conditions for OH emission in circumstellar envelopes". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 54: 593. Bibcode:1977A&A....54..593B.
^González-Torà, G.; Wittkowski, M.; Davies, B.; Plez, B. (2024-03-01). "The effect of winds on atmospheric layers of red supergiants II. Modelling VLTI/GRAVITY and MATISSE observations of AH Sco, KW Sgr, V602 Car, CK Car, and V460 Car". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 683: A19. arXiv:2312.12521. Bibcode:2024A&A...683A..19G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202348047. ISSN0004-6361.
^Percy, John R.; Sato, Hiromitsu (2009). "Long Secondary Periods in Pulsating Red Supergiant Stars". Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. 103 (1): 11. Bibcode:2009JRASC.103...11P.
^González-Torà, G.; Wittkowski, M.; Davies, B.; Plez, B. (December 19, 2023). "The effect of winds on atmospheric layers of red supergiants II. Modelling VLTI/GRAVITY and MATISSE observations of AH Sco, KW Sgr, V602 Car, CK Car and V460 Car". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 683: A19. arXiv:2312.12521. Bibcode:2024A&A...683A..19G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202348047. ISSN0004-6361.