61 Leonis

This article is about p2 Leonis. For other stars with this Bayer designation, see p Leonis.
61 Leonis
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Leo
Right ascension 11h 01m 49.67462s[1]
Declination −02° 29′ 04.5007″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.73[2]
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage AGB[3]
Spectral type M0 III[4]
B−V color index +1.593±0.059[2]
Variable type suspected[5]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−12.7±0.3[6] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +9.76[1] mas/yr
Dec.: −35.56[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)5.58 ± 0.24 mas[1]
Distance580 ± 30 ly
(179 ± 8 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−1.53[2]
Details
Radius74.5[7] R☉
Luminosity1,377.86[2] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)1.25±0.23[8] cgs
Temperature3,864±30[8] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]0.07±0.07[8] dex
Other designations
p2 Leo, 61 Leo, NSV 5059, BD−01° 2471, FK5 2879, HD 95578, HIP 53907, HR 4299, SAO 137947[9]
Database references
SIMBADdata

61 Leonis is a possible binary star[10] system in the zodiac constellation of Leo. It is faintly visible to the naked eye, having an apparent visual magnitude of 4.73.[2] The star is moving closer to the Sun with a heliocentric radial velocity of −12.7 km/s.[6] It is located roughly 580 light-years from the Sun, as determined from its annual parallax shift of 5.58 mas.[1]

This is an evolved red giant star with a stellar classification of M0 III[4] that Eggen (1992) listed as being on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB).[3] It is a marginal barium star, showing an enhanced abundance of s-process elements in its outer atmosphere. This material may have been acquired during a previous mass transfer from a now white dwarf companion, or self-enriched by a dredge-up during the AGB process.[11] The measured angular diameter after correctly for limb darkening is 3.87±0.04 mas,[12] which, at the estimated distance of this system yields a physical size of about 74.5 times the radius of the Sun.[7]

61 Leonis is a suspected variable star with apparent magnitude changing between 4.69 and 4.79.[5] The variability was reported in a 1966 photometric survey, but has not been confirmed by more recent photometry.[13]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference vanLeeuwen2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference Anderson2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference eggen1992 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference perkins1989 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference nsv was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference deBruijne2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference lang2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Prugniel2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Eggleton2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference gomez1997 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Richichi2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference cousins was invoked but never defined (see the help page).