Alpha Apodis

α Apodis
Diagram showing star positions and boundaries of the Apus constellation and its surroundings
Location of α Apodis (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Apus
Right ascension 14h 47m 51.71203s[1]
Declination −79° 02′ 41.1032″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 3.825[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type K2.5III[2]
U−B color index +1.68[3]
B−V color index +1.43[3]
R−I color index +0.53[4]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−1.1[5] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −7.395[6] mas/yr
Dec.: −15.726[6] mas/yr
Parallax (π)7.5519 ± 0.3237 mas[6]
Distance430 ± 20 ly
(132 ± 6 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−1.67[7]
Details
Mass4.46[8] M☉
Radius65 ± 5[9][a] R☉
Luminosity1,072±22[9] L☉
Temperature4,090±80[9] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]-0.3[9] dex
Other designations
α Aps, Alpha Apodis, Alpha Aps, CPD−78°893, FK5 542, HD 129078, HIP 72370, HR 5470, SAO 257193.[2]
Database references
SIMBADdata

Alpha Apodis (Alpha Aps, α Apodis, α Aps) is the brightest star in the southern circumpolar constellation of Apus, with an apparent magnitude of approximately 3.825.[10] It had the Greek alpha designation as part of the constellation which Johann Bayer called Apis Indica in his 1603 Uranometria star atlas.[11] With a declination of –79°, this is a circumpolar star for much of the southern hemisphere. It can be identified on the night sky by drawing an imaginary line through Alpha Centauri and Alpha Circini then extending it toward the south celestial pole.[12]

This is a giant star with a stellar classification of K2.5III,[2] indicating that this star has consumed the hydrogen at its core and has evolved away from the main sequence. It has expanded to an estimated radius of about 65 times the radius of the Sun and is emitting 1,000 times the Sun's luminosity. The photosphere has an effective temperature of 4,090 K,[9] giving the star the characteristic orange hue of a K-type star.[13] Based upon parallax measurements, this star is 430 ± 20 light-years from the Earth.[6] It is not known to have a companion.[14]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference aaa474_2_653 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference clpl4_99 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference bsc1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference rgcrv was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c d Brown, A. G. A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (August 2018). "Gaia Data Release 2: Summary of the contents and survey properties". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 616. A1. arXiv:1804.09365. Bibcode:2018A&A...616A...1G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201833051.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cardini2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference kervella was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference lithium was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference kaler was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference ridpath was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference moore2000 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference csiro was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference mnras389_2_869 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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