  | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Andromeda |
| Right ascension | 02h 20m 58.202s[1] |
| Declination | +50° 09′ 05.39″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 5.59[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | B9VpSi[3] |
| B−Vcolor index | −0.089[4] |
| Variable type | α2 CVn[2] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | −0.30[5] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: 39.818[1]mas/yr Dec.: −31.607[1]mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 8.5275±0.1684 mas[1] |
| Distance | 382 ± 8 ly (117 ± 2 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | +0.26[6] |
| Details[6] | |
| Mass | 3.07±0.14 M☉ |
| Radius | 2.4±0.3 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 110 L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 4.29±0.11 cgs |
| Temperature | 11,967 K |
| Rotation | 4.189 days |
| Other designations | |
| PZ And,BD+49 640,HD 14392,HIP 10944,HR 682,NSV 790,SAO 37960,PPM 27476 | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
63 Andromedae (abbreviated63 And) is anAlpha2 Canum Venaticorum (α2 CVn) variablestar in theconstellationAndromeda. Itsvariable star designation isPZ Andromedae. With anapparent magnitude of about 5.6, it is bright enough to be seen by naked eye. Based upon an annualparallax shift of8.53 mas, it is located 382 light years away.
The spectral type of this star is B9VpSi, indicating that it is a chemically peculiarmain sequence star with abnormally strongsilicon lines. Although it has a B-type spectral class, this type of star is known as anAp star, a class of stars with very strong spectral lines of certain heavy elements and strong magnetic fields. The chemical peculiarities are caused by stratification in the atmosphere due to slow rotation.[7]
The star has 3 times themass of the Sun and 2.4 times theSun's radius. It is radiating 110 times theSun's luminosity from itsphotosphere at aneffective temperature of 11,967 K.[6]
63 Andromedae varies in brightness by about 0.05 magnitudes with a period of 4.189 days. This is believed to occur as it rotates. This type ofvariable star is known as an α2 Canum Venaticorum variable after the first example to be studied.[2]
To the naked eye the star figures as a faint, denseasterism with 64 and 65 Andromedae (southwest and west), which together justify a rectangular projection (extreme) of the constellation (official boundaries).[9] North, west and east are an arm/hand, fictitiously and geometrically, of Perseus, whose character is related in traditional mythology as Andromeda's saviour, saving her from the sea monster, who forever retreats to beyondPisces,Cetus. The closest star in the asterisms commonly drawn up to represent the princess herself is51 Andromedae, to the east. At anapparent magnitude of 3.57, this star shines two magnitudes or 6.3 times brighter.[9]
