HD 88981

M Carinae

Template:Location mark Location of M Carinae (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Carina
Right ascension	Template:RA
Declination	Template:DEC
Apparent magnitude (V)
Characteristics
Spectral type	kA8 mF4 III
U−B Template:Engvar	+0.18
B−V Template:Engvar	+0.22
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	−15.2 ± 2 km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: −34.330 mas/yr Dec.: +11.333 mas/yr
Parallax (π)	10.5045±0.1031 mas
Distance	Template:Rnd ± Template:Rnd ly (Template:Rnd ± Template:Rnd pc)
Details
Mass	Template:Solar mass
Radius	Template:Solar radius
Luminosity	Template:Solar luminosity
Surface gravity (log g)	cgs
Temperature	K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)	60 km/s
Metallicity [Fe/H]	{{{metal_fe2}}} dex
Other designations
Template:Odlist
Database references
SIMBAD	data

M Carinae (HD 88981) is a solitary star in the constellation Carina. It has an apparent magnitude of +5.154, making it faintly visible to the naked eye under ideal and is located approximately 310 light-years from Earth. With a heliocentric radial velocity of M Carinae is drifting closer to the Solar System.

M Car has a stellar classification of kA8 mF4 III which indicates that it has the calcium K-line and surface temperature of an A8 star and the metallic lines of an evolved F-type giant that has just exhausted hydrogen fusion at its core. At present M Car has 2.14 times the mass of the Sun but has mildly expanded to 4.45 times its girth. It shines at a luminosity almost 63 times greater than the Sun from its bloated photosphere at an effective temperature of , which gives it the white glow of an A-type star. M Car spins moderately at a projected rotational velocity of , slightly faster than most Am stars.