D Centauri

D Centauri

Observation data Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation	Centaurus
Right ascension	Template:RA
Declination	Template:DEC
Apparent magnitude (V)	+5.31 (5.78 + 6.98)
Characteristics
Spectral type	K3III (K4IIIab + K2IIIb)
U−B Template:Engvar	+1.82/1.19
B−V Template:Engvar	/1.21
Astrometry
A
Radial velocity (Rv)	km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: −37.186 mas/yr Dec.: 6.606 mas/yr
Parallax (π)	5.3350±0.1399 mas
Distance	Template:Rnd ± Template:Rnd ly (Template:Rnd ± Template:Rnd pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	−0.88
B
Proper motion (μ)	RA: −33.604 mas/yr Dec.: 5.434 mas/yr
Parallax (π)	4.9297±0.0550 mas
Distance	Template:Rnd ± Template:Rnd ly (Template:Rnd ± Template:Rnd pc)
Details
A
Radius	Template:Solar radius
Luminosity	Template:Solar luminosity
Temperature	K
B
Radius	Template:Solar radius
Luminosity	Template:Solar luminosity
Temperature	K
Metallicity [Fe/H]	{{{metal_fe2}}} dex
Other designations
Template:Odlist
Database references
SIMBAD	data

D Centauri is a double star in the southern constellation of Centaurus. The system is faintly visible to the naked eye as a point of light with a combined apparent magnitude of +5.31; the two components are of magnitude 5.78 and 6.98, respectively. It is located at a distance of approximately 610 light years from the Sun based on parallax, and is drifting further away with a radial velocity of ~10 km/s.

The dual nature of this star was announced by C. Rumker in 1837. As of 2015, the pair had an angular separation of along a position angle of 242°. This orange-hued double has a combined stellar classification of K3III, matching an aging giant star that has exhausted the supply of hydrogen at its core. In 1984, C. J. Corbally found a class of K4IIIab for the primary and K2IIIb for the fainter secondary.