| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 13h 29m 25.25471s[1] |
| Declination | −51° 09′ 54.5048″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +5.04[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | A1V[3] |
| U−Bcolor index | +0.07 |
| B−Vcolor index | +0.059±0.003[2] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | −2.0±4.2[2] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: -2.094[1]mas/yr Dec.: -5.548[1]mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 7.9861±0.2224 mas[1] |
| Distance | 410 ± 10 ly (125 ± 3 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | −0.91[2] |
| Details | |
| Mass | 3.128[4] M☉ |
| Radius | 6.635[5] R☉ |
| Luminosity | 248[5] L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 2.982[5] cgs |
| Temperature | 9,167[5] K |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 220.4±2.4[6] km/s |
| Other designations | |
| K Cen,CD−50°7812,GC 18220,HD 117150,HIP 65810,HR 5071,SAO 240883[7] | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
K Centauri is a possible binarystar in the southernconstellation ofCentaurus. It has a white hue and is bright enough to be visible to the naked eye, having anapparent visual magnitude of +5.04.
K Centauri is located at a distance of approximately 410 light years from theSun based onparallax, and it has anabsolute magnitude of −0.91.[2] This is an ordinaryA-type main-sequence star with astellar classification of A1V.[3] It is spinning rapidly with aprojected rotational velocity of 220 km/s,[6] which is giving it a pronouncedequatorial bulge that is 25% larger than the polar radius.[8]
Analysis ofHipparcos andGaiaastrometry suggests that the relatively large margins of error in the calculated parallax may be due to orbital motion caused by an unseen companion. The companion would be an81 MJ object orbiting at about2 AU.[4]
