N Centauri

For n Centauri, see HD 111968.
N Centauri
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Centaurus
A
Right ascension 13h 52m 04.86231s[1]
Declination −52° 48′ 41.5063″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.26[2]
B
Right ascension 13h 52m 02.97130s[3]
Declination −52° 48′ 35.7079″[3]
Apparent magnitude (V) 7.49[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type B9V + F0Vn[4][5]
B−V color index −0.084±0.003[2]
Astrometry
A
Radial velocity (Rv)+27.0±4.2[2] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −38.997[1] mas/yr
Dec.: −26.863[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)10.7449 ± 0.0882 mas[1]
Distance304 ± 2 ly
(93.1 ± 0.8 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+0.76[2]
Details
A
Mass3.04[6] M☉
Radius2.458[6] R☉
Luminosity70.18[2] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)4.32±0.14[7] cgs
Temperature13,032±443[7] K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)205[7] km/s
Age66[7] Myr
B
Mass1.48±0.01[8] M☉
Radius1.61+0.08
−0.09[8] R☉
Luminosity6.43[9] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)4.29[10] cgs
Temperature7,354[9] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.01+0.17
−0.15[8] dex
Age1.07+1.56
−0.42[8] Gyr
Other designations
N Cen, CPD−52°6787, FK5 2985, CCDM J13521-5249, WDS J13521-5249[11]
A: GC 18720, HD 120642, HIP 67703, HR 5207, SAO 241239[11]
B: CD−52°5831, GC 18718, HD 120641, HIP 67702, SAO 241238[12]
Database references
SIMBADA
B

N Centauri is a binary star[13] in the southern constellation of Centaurus. The brighter star is dimly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.26, and it is approximately 304 light years away based on parallax. It has an absolute magnitude of +0.76 and is drifting further away from the Sun with a radial velocity of +27 km/s. It is a candidate member of the Sco OB2 moving group.[14]

The double nature of this system was discovered by German astronomer Carl Rümker in 1835. As of 2016, the companion lay at an angular separation of 18.5″ along a position angle of 289° from the primary.[15] They form a co-moving pair with a projected separation of 1,566 AU.[16] The more luminous member is a B-type main-sequence star with a stellar classification of B9V.[13] Its fainter companion is an F-type main-sequence star with a class of F0Vn, where the 'n' suffix indicates that the metal absorption lines in its spectrum are unusual broad ("nebulous") and indicative of rapid rotation.[4][5] Based upon discrepancies in the proper motion measurements, there are hints of a third member of this system.[13]

  1. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference edr3a was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference Anderson2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference edr3b was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference skiff2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference lindroos1983 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference tic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference David2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Bochanski2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference GaiaDR2b was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference starhorse was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD_A was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD_B was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Eggleton2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rizzuto2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference WDSC2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference lindroos1985 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).