Kappa Aurigae

κ Aurigae
Location of κ Aurigae (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Auriga
Right ascension 06h 15m 22.68906s[1]
Declination +29° 29′ 53.0760″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.335[2]
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage horizontal branch[3]
Spectral type G8.5 IIIb[4]
U−B color index +0.812[2]
B−V color index +1.023[2]
R−I color index 0.54
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+20.69 ± 0.15[5] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −70.88[1] mas/yr
Dec.: −261.42[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)18.43 ± 0.23 mas[1]
Distance177 ± 2 ly
(54.3 ± 0.7 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+0.65[6]
Details
Mass1.25[7] M☉
Radius11[5] R☉
Luminosity54[5] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)2.7[5] cgs
Temperature4,732[5] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.33[5] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)2.5[5] km/s
Age5.59[7] Gyr
Other designations
κ Aur, 44 Aurigae, BD+29°1154, FK5 1168, HD 43039, HIP 29696, HR 2219, SAO 78143, 2MASS J06152269+2929535, Gaia DR2 3436911415279548032[8]
Database references
SIMBADdata

Kappa Aurigae, Latinised from κ Aurigae, is the Bayer designation for a star in the northern constellation of Auriga. It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.3.[2] Based upon an annual parallax shift of 18.43 mas,[1] it is approximately 177 light-years (54 parsecs) distant from Earth.

This is an evolved giant star with a stellar classification of G8.5 IIIb.[4] It is a red clump star, which means it is towards the cool end of the horizontal branch and is generating energy through the fusion of helium at its core.[3] Kappa Aurigae has expanded to 11 times the radius of the Sun and shines with 54 times the Sun's luminosity. This energy is radiated into outer space from the outer envelope at an effective temperature of 4,732 K.[5] At this heat, the star glows with the orange hue of a G-type star.[9]

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