Sigma Virginis

σ Virginis

Template:Location mark Location of σ Virginis (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Virgo
Right ascension	Template:RA
Declination	Template:DEC
Apparent magnitude (V)	4.86
Characteristics
Spectral type	M1 III
U−B Template:Engvar	+1.86
B−V Template:Engvar	+1.62
Variable type	suspected
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	Template:Val km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: −6.06 mas/yr Dec.: +9.14 mas/yr
Parallax (π)	4.83±0.19 mas
Distance	Template:Rnd ± Template:Rnd ly (Template:Rnd ± Template:Rnd pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	−1.80
Details
Radius	98 Template:Solar radius
Luminosity	1,610 Template:Solar luminosity
Surface gravity (log g)	0.42 cgs
Temperature	3,690 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]	{{{metal_fe2}}} dex
Other designations
σ Vir, 60 Virginis, BD+06°2722, FK5 1344, HD 115521, HIP 64852, HR 5015, SAO 119855
Database references
SIMBAD	data

Sigma Virginis (σ Vir, σ Virginis) is a star in the zodiac constellation of Virgo. It can be faintly seen with the naked eye with a baseline apparent visual magnitude of 4.86. Based upon parallax measurements, the distance to this star is roughly 680 light-years.

File:SigVirLightCurve.png

A light curve for Sigma Virginis, plotted from Hipparcos data

This is an evolved red giant star with a stellar classification of M1 III. It is a suspected variable star with a brightness that ranges from magnitude +4.77 to +4.86. This variation has pulsation periods of 23.4, 24.3, 27.9 and 34.1 days. The effective temperature of the stellar atmosphere is around 3,800 K, and it shines with 1,734 times the luminosity of the Sun.