Gamma Reticuli

Gamma Reticuli
Diagram showing star positions and boundaries of the Reticulum constellation and its surroundings
Location of γ Reticuli (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Reticulum
Right ascension 04h 00m 53.80860s[1]
Declination −62° 09′ 33.4250″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.5[2]
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage asymptotic giant branch[3]
Spectral type M4 III[4]
U−B color index +1.81[2]
B−V color index +1.66[2]
Variable type SR[5]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−7.0±2.7[6] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +3.03[1] mas/yr
Dec.: +34.67[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)6.95 ± 0.11 mas[1]
Distance469 ± 7 ly
(144 ± 2 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−1.31[7]
Details
Mass1.5−2[5] M☉
Radius115[5] R☉
Luminosity1,846[8] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)0.8[5] cgs
Temperature3,599[8] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]0.0[5] dex
Other designations
γ Ret, CD−62° 149, HD 25705, HIP 18744, HR 1264, SAO 248925.[9]
Database references
SIMBADdata

Gamma Reticuli (Gamma Ret, γ Reticuli, γ Ret) is a solitary[10] star in the southern constellation of Reticulum. With an apparent visual magnitude of 4.5,[2] it can be faintly seen with the naked eye. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 6.95 mas,[1] it is located roughly 469 light years from the Sun. At that distance, the visual magnitude is diminished by an extinction factor of 0.08 due to interstellar dust.[5]

A light curve for Gamma Reticuli, plotted from Hipparcos data[11]

This is an evolved red giant star, currently on the asymptotic giant branch,[3] with a stellar classification of M4 III.[4] It is a semiregular variable with a period of 25 days.[5] Gamma Reticuli has 1.5−2 times the mass of the Sun, 115 times the Sun's radius,[5] and radiates 1,846 times the solar luminosity from its outer atmosphere at an effective temperature of 3,450 K.[8]

Gamma Reticuli is moving through the Galaxy at a speed of 24.8 km/s relative to the Sun. Its projected Galactic orbit carries it between 24,100 and 39,200 light years from the center of the Galaxy.[12]

  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 Cite error: The named reference Mermilliod1986 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 houk1979 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Cite error: The named reference Cruzalebes2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference deBruijne2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Anderson2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Mcdonald2012 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 CDS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Gamma Reticuli (HIP 18744) Archived 2014-04-14 at the Wayback Machine