R Carinae

This article is about the variable star. For r Carinae, see HD 91942.
R Carinae

The visual band light curve of R Carinae, from AAVSO data[1]
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Carina
Right ascension 09h 32m 14.59964s[2]
Declination −62° 47′ 20.0452″[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) 3.9 - 10.5[3]
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage AGB[4]
Spectral type M6/7pe[5]
B−V color index 0.906±0.009[6]
Variable type Mira[3]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+28.1±1.0[6] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −37.900[2] mas/yr
Dec.: +22.232[2] mas/yr
Parallax (π)2.5813 ± 0.4460 mas[2]
Distanceapprox. 1,300 ly
(approx. 390 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)1.48[6] (at mv = 7.43)
Details
Mass0.87+0.47
−0.31[4] M☉
Radius241.0+37.6
−32.6[4] R☉
Luminosity4,571+1,331
−1,031[4] L☉
Temperature2,800[7] K
Other designations
R Car, CD−62°396, GC 13192, HD 82901, HIP 46806, HR 3816, SAO 250614, CCDM J09322-6247, WDS J09322-6247AB[8]
Database references
SIMBADdata

R Carinae is a double star in the southern constellation of Carina. The brighter component is a variable star that can be viewed with the naked eye at peak brightness,[9] but is usually too faint to be seen without a telescope, having an apparent visual magnitude that fluctuates around 7.43.[6] This star is located at a distance of approximately 1,300 light years from the Sun based on parallax, and is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +28 km/s.[6]

The main component is an aging red giant star on the asymptotic giant branch[4] with a stellar classification of M6/7pe.[5] It is classified as a pulsating Mira type variable star and its visual brightness varies with an average amplitude of 4.25 magnitudes over a period of 303.99±1.08 d. Its average maximum visual magnitude is 5.05±0.45,[9] but the brightest observed maximum was magnitude 3.9[3] This star is surrounded by a dusty shell, with properties that are consistent with iron-poor silicates or corundum, extending from around three stellar radii outward.[10]

The companion is a magnitude 11.30 star at an angular separation of 2.10″ along a position angle of 132° from the main star, as of 2015.[11]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference aavso was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference GaiaDR2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Samus2017 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference takeuti2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference houk1979 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference Anderson2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference mcdonald2012 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).
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference vogt2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ireland2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference WDSC2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).