AK Leporis

AK Leporis

A visual band light curve for AK Leporis, adapted from Nitschelm et al. (2000)[1]
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Lepus
Right ascension 05h 44m 26.537s[2]
Declination −22° 25′ 18.61″[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) 6.141[3]
Characteristics
Spectral type K2V[4]
U−B color index +0.74[5]
B−V color index +0.96[5]
Variable type BY Draconis[4]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)9.57±0.13[6] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −304.905[2] mas/yr
Dec.: −352.606[2] mas/yr
Parallax (π)112.4661 ± 0.0151 mas[2]
Distance29.000 ± 0.004 ly
(8.892 ± 0.001 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)6.31[3]
Details
Mass0.8[2] M☉
Radius0.8[2] R☉
Luminosity0.3[2] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)4.66±0.01[7] cgs
Temperature4,869±61[7] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]0.01±0.06[7] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)2.8±1.8[6] km/s
Age0.9[8] Gyr
Other designations
BD−22 1210, GJ 216 B, HD 38392, HR 1982, LTT 2363, SAO 170757,[9] γ Leporis B[1]
Database references
SIMBADdata

AK Leporis is a variable star in the southern constellation of Lepus the hare. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 6.141,[3] so, according to the Bortle scale, it is faintly visible from rural skies at night. This star forms a visual double with Gamma Leporis—the two have an angular separation of 97″, making them difficult to separate with the naked eye even under the best conditions.[10] Both Gamma Leporis and AK Leporis are members of the Ursa Major Moving Group of stars that share a common motion through space.[6]

This is a BY Draconis variable star that undergoes slight brightness variations due to stellar activity. Differential rotation causes changes to the periodicity of the variation depending on the latitude of the activity.[4] X-ray emission has been detected from AK Leporis, and it is located at or near a radio source.[11]

Infrared observation of this star shows a large excess at a wavelength of 24 μm. This may be explained by the proximity of Gamma Leporis to the line of sight, or there may be a red dwarf companion or a dust disc. There is no excess observed at 70 μm.[8]

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  6. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference mnras427_4_2905 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference aaa531_A165 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference apj705_1_89 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference aj139_1_96 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).