Gamma1 Fornacis

For other stars with this Bayer designation, see γ Fornacis.
γ1 Fornacis
Location of γ1 Fornacis (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Fornax
Right ascension 02h 49m 50.96219s[1]
Declination −24° 33′ 37.1290″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 6.154[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type G9 III[3]
B−V color index 1.081[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−6.58±0.64[4] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −51.603[1] mas/yr
Dec.: −127.797[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)8.8835 ± 0.0576 mas[1]
Distance367 ± 2 ly
(112.6 ± 0.7 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+0.52±0.21[4]
Details
Mass1.65[2] M☉
Radius10.44+0.73
−0.49[1] R☉
Luminosity50.814±0.439[1] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)2.60[4] cgs
Temperature4,657±56[2] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.02[4] dex
Age3.36[2] Gyr
Other designations
γ1 For, CD−25°1120, GC 3404, HD 17713, HIP 13197, HR 844, SAO 168081, WDS J02498-2434A[5]
Database references
SIMBADdata

Gamma1 Fornacis, which is Latinized from γ1 Fornacis, is a star in the constellation Fornax, positioned less than a degree south of the border with Eridanus.[6] The star has a golden hue and can be a challenge to view with the naked eye even in good seeing conditions, having an apparent visual magnitude of 6.15.[2] It is located at a distance of approximately 367 light years from the Sun based on parallax,[1] but is drifting closer with a radial velocity of −7 km/s.[4] The star has an absolute magnitude of +0.5.[4]

The stellar classification of γ1 Fornacis is G9 III,[3] which indicates this is an aging giant star[4] that has exhausted the supply of hydrogen at its core, then cooled and expanded away from the main sequence. It is an estimated 3.4[2] billion years old with a metallicity that is close to solar, indicating the abundances of heavy elements are similar to those in the Sun. It has 1.65[2] times the mass of the Sun and has expanded to ten[1] times the Sun's radius. The star is radiating 51[1] times the Sun's luminosity from its enlarged photosphere at an effective temperature of 4,657 K.[2]

γ1 Fornacis has three visual companions listed in the Washington Double Star Catalog. These are faint 11th - 13th magnitude stars at 11' - 56' distance from γ1.[7] Gamma2 Fornacis is a 5th magnitude star located four degrees to the south.[6]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cite error: The named reference GaiaDR2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cite error: The named reference Luck2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Abt2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Cite error: The named reference Luck_Heiter_2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Sinnott_Perryman_1997 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mason_et_al_2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).