Kappa Aurigae
G-type giant star in the constellation Auriga From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
G-type giant star in the constellation Auriga From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kappa Aurigae, Latinised from κ Aurigae, is the Bayer designation for a star in the northern constellation of Auriga. It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.3.[2] Based upon an annual parallax shift of 18.43 mas,[1] it is approximately 177 light-years (54 parsecs) distant from Earth.
 | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Auriga |
| Right ascension | 06h 15m 22.68906s[1] |
| Declination | +29° 29′ 53.0760″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 4.335[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Evolutionary stage | horizontal branch[3] |
| Spectral type | G8.5 IIIb[4] |
| U−B color index | +0.812[2] |
| B−V color index | +1.023[2] |
| R−I color index | 0.54 |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +20.69 ± 0.15[5] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −70.88[1] mas/yr Dec.: −261.42[1] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 18.43 ± 0.23 mas[1] |
| Distance | 177 ± 2 ly (54.3 ± 0.7 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | +0.65[6] |
| Details | |
| Mass | 1.25[7] M☉ |
| Radius | 11[5] R☉ |
| Luminosity | 54[5] L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 2.7[5] cgs |
| Temperature | 4,732[5] K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | −0.33[5] dex |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 2.5[5] km/s |
| Age | 5.59[7] Gyr |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
This is an evolved giant star with a stellar classification of G8.5 IIIb.[4] It is a red clump star, which means it is towards the cool end of the horizontal branch and is generating energy through the fusion of helium at its core.[3] Kappa Aurigae has expanded to 11 times the radius of the Sun and shines with 54 times the Sun's luminosity. This energy is radiated into outer space from the outer envelope at an effective temperature of 4,732 K.[5] At this heat, the star glows with the orange hue of a G-type star.[9]
