astronomy

WASP-74

WASP-74 is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand WASP-74 rather than just read about it. In short: WASP-74 is a star in the constellation of Aquila, located approximately 487 light-years (149 parsecs) from the Sun. At least one exoplanet is known to orbit the star.

Key takeaways

WASP-74 belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect WASP-74 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of WASP-74 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

WASP-74 is a star in the constellation of Aquila, located approximately 487 light-years (149 parsecs) from the Sun. At least one exoplanet is known to orbit the star.

Stellar characteristics WASP-74 is a yellow-white subgiant of spectral type F9. Its apparent magnitude is 9.75, making it invisible to the naked eye. Based on spectroscopic analysis with the HARPS-N spectrograph and Bayesian modelling using PARSEC isochrones, the star has a mass of 1.236 ± 0.026 solar masses, a radius of 1.444±0.044 solar radii, and an effective temperature of 5,883±57 K. Its metallicity ([Fe/H]) is +0.38±0.03, indicating it is notably more metal-rich than the Sun. Stellar models give an age of 3.49±0.65 billion years, and the star's projected rotational velocity is 5.85±0.50 km/s. The star's proper motion is 1.350±0.082 mas/yr in right ascension and −64.604±0.060 mas/yr in declination, with a radial velocity of −15.32±0.27 km/s.

Planetary system In 2015, one exoplanet was announced orbiting WASP-74, designated WASP-74 b, discovered by the SuperWASP survey using the transit method. It is a hot Jupiter with a mass of 0.72 Jupiter masses and a radius of 1.312 Jupiter radii, completing one orbit every 2.13775138 days at a distance of 0.0334 AU from its host star, with an equilibrium temperature of approximately 1,865 K. The planet's orbit is circular and well-aligned with the stellar equator, with a measured sky-projected spin-orbit angle of 0.77±0.99 degrees.

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with WASP-74

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what WASP-74 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to WASP-74 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about WASP-74 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of WASP-74

In research: WASP-74 appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses WASP-74 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: WASP-74 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Aquila (constellation), F-type subgiants, Planetary systems, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for WASP-74 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study WASP-74 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what WASP-74 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain WASP-74 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is WASP-74 in simple terms?

WASP-74 is a star in the constellation of Aquila, located approximately 487 light-years (149 parsecs) from the Sun. At least one exoplanet is known to orbit the star.

Why does WASP-74 matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study WASP-74?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on WASP-74.