Psi6 Aurigae

For other stars with a similar Bayer designation, see ψ Aurigae.
Psi6 Aurigae
Location of ψ6 Aurigae (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Auriga
Right ascension 06h 47m 39.57703s[1]
Declination +48° 47′ 22.1222″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) +5.22[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type K0.5 III[1]
U−B color index +1.04[2]
B−V color index +1.11[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−6.51±0.30[3] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −4.32[1] mas/yr
Dec.: +7.19[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)9.05 ± 0.38 mas[1]
Distance360 ± 20 ly
(110 ± 5 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+0.01[4]
Orbit[5]
Period (P)5,996±26 d
Eccentricity (e)0.044±0.014
Periastron epoch (T)52556 ± 310 MJD
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)		222±19°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)		3.24±0.04 km/s
Details[6]
ψ6 Aur A
Mass2.02±0.28 M☉
Radius17.72±0.76 R☉
Luminosity123.4±10.2 L☉
Surface gravity (log g)2.25±0.07 cgs
Temperature4,574±26 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.08±0.10 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)+10[7] km/s
Age1.55±0.67 Gyr
Other designations
ψ6 Aur, 57 Aurigae, BD+48° 1436, FK5 1176, HD 48781, HIP 32562, HR 2487, SAO 41346[8]
Database references
SIMBADdata

Psi6 Aurigae, Latinized from ψ6 Aurigae, is a spectroscopic binary[5] star in the northern constellation of Auriga. It is a dim, naked eye star with an apparent visual magnitude of +5.22.[2] Based upon a measured annual parallax shift of 9.05 ± 0.38 mas,[1] it is approximately 360 light-years (110 parsecs) distant from the Earth.

This is a single-lined spectroscopic binary star system with an orbital period of 5,996 days (16.4 years) and an eccentricity of 0.044.[5] The visible component is a K-type giant star with a stellar classification of K0.5 III.[1] It is most likely (78% chance) on the red giant branch and is around 1.55 billion years old. As such, it has an estimated double the mass of the Sun and about 18 times the Sun's radius. The star is radiating about 123 times the Sun's luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 4,574 K.[6]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h 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 Argue1966 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference deBruijne2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Anderson2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Griffin2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference reffert2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bernacca1970 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).