Pollux (star)

Pollux
Location of Pollux (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Gemini
Pronunciation /ˈpɒləks/[1]
Right ascension 07h 45m 18.94987s[2]
Declination +28° 01′ 34.3160″[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) 1.14[3]
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage Red clump[4]
Spectral type K0 III[5]
U−B color index +0.86[3]
B−V color index +1.00[3]
V−R color index +0.75[3]
R−I color index +0.50[3]
Variable type Suspected[6]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+3.23[7] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −626.55 mas/yr[2]
Dec.: −45.80 mas/yr[2]
Parallax (π)96.54 ± 0.27 mas[2]
Distance33.78 ± 0.09 ly
(10.36 ± 0.03 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+1.08±0.02[8]
Details
Mass1.91±0.09[9] M☉
Radius9.06±0.03[10] R☉
Luminosity32.7±1.6[10] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)2.685±0.09[11] cgs
Temperature4,586±57[10] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]–0.07 to +0.19[11] dex
Rotation660±15 d[12]
Rotational velocity (v sin i)2.8[13] km/s
Age1.19±0.3[9] (0.9 – 1.7)[4] Gyr
Other designations
β Geminorum, 78 Geminorum, BD+28°1463, GJ 286, HD 62509, HIP 37826, HR 2990, SAO 79666, LFT 548, LHS 1945, LTT 12065[14]
Database references
SIMBADdata
ARICNSdata

Pollux is the brightest star in the constellation of Gemini. It has the Bayer designation β Geminorum, which is Latinised to Beta Geminorum and abbreviated Beta Gem or β Gem. This is an orange-hued, evolved red giant located at a distance of 34 light-years, making it the closest red giant (and giant star) to the Sun. Since 1943, the spectrum of this star has served as one of the stable anchor points by which other stars are classified.[15] In 2006 an exoplanet (designated Pollux b or β Geminorum b, later named Thestias) was announced to be orbiting it.[11]

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