Mu Pictoris
Variable star in the constellation Pictor / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
μ Pictoris, Latinised as Mu Pictoris, is a binary star[3] system in the southern constellation Pictor. It is bright enough to be dimly visible to the naked eye, having a combined apparent visual magnitude of 5.69.[2] Based upon an annual parallax shift of 4.31 mas as seen from Earth,[1] the system is located roughly 760 light years distant from the Sun. As of 2010, the pair have an angular separation of 2.46 arc seconds along a position angle of 221°.[4]
Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS) | |
---|---|
Constellation | Pictor |
Right ascension | 06h 31m 58.31021s[1] |
Declination | −58° 45′ 13.8117″[1] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 5.69[2] (5.71 + 9.43)[3] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | B9 Ve[4] or B9 IVn + A8 V:p?[5] |
U−B color index | −0.17[2] |
B−V color index | −0.06[2] |
Astrometry | |
Radial velocity (Rv) | +0.40±1.00[6] km/s |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: −1.34[1] mas/yr Dec.: +1.77[1] mas/yr |
Parallax (π) | 4.31 ± 0.38 mas[1] |
Distance | 760 ± 70 ly (230 ± 20 pc) |
Absolute magnitude (MV) | 0.20/3.75[7] |
Details | |
μ Pic A | |
Mass | 3.60±0.09[8] M☉ |
Luminosity | 355[8] L☉ |
Temperature | 10,568[8] K |
Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 228[8] km/s |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
The primary, designated component A, is a blue-white star with a visual magnitude of 5.71[3] and a stellar classification of B9 Ve[4] or B9 IVn.[5] The first classification suggests is a B-type main-sequence star, with the 'e' suffix indicating a Be star. The second may instead indicate a somewhat more evolved B-type star that is spinning rapidly, resulting in "nebulous" absorption lines. Photometrically, it shows a pulsation period of 0.397 days, which is likely the same as the rotation period.[10]
The secondary companion, component B, is a white-hued star of magnitude 9.43[3] with a classification of A8 V:p?.[5] This indicates it is an A-type main-sequence star, with the 'p?' suffix suggesting it may be chemically peculiar while the ':' notation says there is some uncertainty about the general classification.