Epsilon Centauri (ε Cen, ε Centauri) is a star in the southern constellation of Centaurus. It is one of the brightest stars in the constellation with a slightly variable apparent visual magnitude of 2.30. Parallax measurements put it at a distance of around 430 light-years (130 parsecs) from Earth.
  | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 13h 39m 53.25774s[1] |
| Declination | −53° 27′ 59.0081″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 2.30[2] (2.29 - 2.31[3]) |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | B1 III[4] |
| U−B color index | −0.92[2] |
| B−V color index | −0.22[2] |
| Variable type | β Cep[3] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | 3.0[5] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −15.30[1] mas/yr Dec.: −11.72[1] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 7.63 ± 0.48 mas[1] |
| Distance | 430 ± 30 ly (131 ± 8 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | –3.9[6] |
| Details | |
| Mass | 11.60 ± 1.06[4] M☉ |
| Luminosity | 15,217[4] L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 3.68[6] cgs |
| Temperature | 24,000[4] K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | –0.14 ± 0.10[7] dex |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 160[8] km/s |
| Age | 15.8 ± 5.7[9] Myr |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
In Chinese, 南門 (Nán Mén), meaning Southern Gate, refers to an asterism consisting of ε Centauri and α Centauri.[10] Consequently, the Chinese name for ε Centauri itself is 南門一 (Nán Mén yī, English: the First Star of Southern Gate.)[11]
ε Centauri is a massive star with nearly 12 times the mass of the Sun.[4] The spectrum matches a stellar classification of B1 III,[4] indicating this is an evolved giant star. It is radiating more than 15,000[4] times the luminosity of the Sun from its outer atmosphere at an effective temperature of 24,000 K,[4] giving it the blue-white hue of a B-type star.[13] This is classified as a Beta Cephei type variable star with a primary period of 0.16961 days (4 hours 4 minutes), completing 5.9 cycles per day.[7] During each cycle, the brightness of the star varies from apparent magnitude 2.29 to 2.31.
This star is a proper motion member of the Lower Centaurus–Crux sub-group in the Scorpius–Centaurus OB association, the nearest such association of co-moving massive stars to the Sun.[6] Epsilon Centauri is a relatively young star, with an age of around 16 million years.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e van Leeuwen, F. (November 2007), "Validation of the new Hipparcos reduction", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 474 (2): 653–664, arXiv:0708.1752, Bibcode:2007A&A...474..653V, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20078357, S2CID 18759600
- ^ a b c Ducati, J. R. (2002). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: Catalogue of Stellar Photometry in Johnson's 11-color system". CDS/ADC Collection of Electronic Catalogues. 2237: 0. Bibcode:2002yCat.2237....0D.
- ^ a b Samus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus 2007–2013)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S. 1: 02025. Bibcode:2009yCat....102025S.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hohle, M. M.; Neuhäuser, R.; Schutz, B. F. (April 2010), "Masses and luminosities of O- and B-type stars and red supergiants", Astronomische Nachrichten, 331 (4): 349, arXiv:1003.2335, Bibcode:2010AN....331..349H, doi:10.1002/asna.200911355, S2CID 111387483
- ^ Evans, D. S. (June 20–24, 1966), "The Revision of the General Catalogue of Radial Velocities", in Batten, Alan Henry; Heard, John Frederick (eds.), Determination of Radial Velocities and their Applications, Proceedings from IAU Symposium no. 30, vol. 30, University of Toronto: International Astronomical Union, p. 57, Bibcode:1967IAUS...30...57E
- ^ a b c de Geus, E. J.; de Zeeuw, P. T.; Lub, J. (June 1989), "Physical parameters of stars in the Scorpio-Centaurus OB association", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 216 (1–2): 44–61, Bibcode:1989A&A...216...44D
- ^ a b Daszyńska-Daszkiewicz, J.; Niemczura, E. (April 2005), "Metallicity of mono- and multiperiodic β Cephei stars", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 433 (3): 1031–1035, arXiv:astro-ph/0410442, Bibcode:2005A&A...433.1031D, doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20040397, S2CID 119340011
- ^ Balona, L. A.; Dziembowski, W. A. (October 1999), "Excitation and visibility of high-degree modes in stars", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 309 (1): 221–232, Bibcode:1999MNRAS.309..221B, doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.1999.02821.x
- ^ a b Tetzlaff, N.; Neuhäuser, R.; Hohle, M. M. (January 2011), "A catalogue of young runaway Hipparcos stars within 3 kpc from the Sun", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 410 (1): 190–200, arXiv:1007.4883, Bibcode:2011MNRAS.410..190T, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17434.x, S2CID 118629873
- ^ (in Chinese) 中國星座神話, written by 陳久金. Published by 台灣書房出版有限公司, 2005, ISBN 978-986-7332-25-7.
- ^ (in Chinese) AEEA (Activities of Exhibition and Education in Astronomy) 天文教育資訊網 2006 年 7 月 25 日 Archived 2011-05-22 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Shobbrook, R. R. (1972). "Two new Beta Canis Majoris variables: epsilon Cen and delta Lup". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 157. Bibcode:1972MNRAS.157P...5S. doi:10.1093/mnras/157.1.5P.
- ^ "The Colour of Stars", Australia Telescope, Outreach and Education, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, December 21, 2004, archived from the original on 2012-03-18, retrieved 2012-01-16
- ^ "Naming Stars". International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 2023-09-14.