| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Auriga |
| Right ascension | 06h 17m 34.6465s[1] |
| Declination | +46° 25′ 26.230″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 6.53[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | F0 V[3] or A6 Vp(4481 wk)n[4] |
| B−Vcolor index | 0.263±0.003[2] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | −12.0±1.0[5] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −43.520[1]mas/yr Dec.: +11.147[1]mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 13.24±0.38 mas[1] |
| Distance | 246 ± 7 ly (76 ± 2 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | 2.27[2] |
| Details | |
| Mass | 1.70±0.02[6] M☉ |
| Luminosity | 10.29[2] L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 4.18±0.14[7] cgs |
| Temperature | 7,660±260[7] K |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 228[6] km/s |
| Age | 1.042[7] Gyr |
| Other designations | |
| 42 Aur,BD+46°1122,HD 43244,HIP 29884,HR 2228,SAO 40999[8] | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
42 Aurigae is astar in the northernconstellation ofAuriga. Thedesignation is from the star catalogue of English astronomerJohn Flamsteed, first published in 1712. It has anapparent visual magnitude of 6.53,[2] which places it just below the visibility limit for normal eyesight under good seeing conditions. It displays an annualparallax shift of 13.24 mas, which yields a distance estimate of around 246 light years. The star is moving closer to the Sun with aradial velocity of −12 km/s.[5] It is a member of theUrsa Major Moving Group of stars that share a common motion through space.[9]
The star was assigned astellar classification of F0 V byNancy Roman in 1949,[3] indicating it is anF-type main-sequence star. However, in 1995 Abt and Morrell catalogued it as classA6 Vp(4481 wk)n;[4] a somewhat hotter and more massiveA-type main-sequence star that displays spectral peculiarities as well as nebulous lines brought about by rapid rotation. It is around a billion years old[7] with a high rate of spin, showing aprojected rotational velocity of 228 km/s.[6] The star has an estimated 1.7[6] times themass of the Sun and is radiating 10[2] times theSun's luminosity from itsphotosphere at aneffective temperature of around 7,660 K.[7]
