3 Centauri
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Observation data Epoch J2000.0 |
|
---|---|
Constellation (pronunciation) |
Centaurus |
Right ascension | 13h51m49.6s |
Declination | −32°59′40″ |
Apparent magnitude (V) | +4.56/+6.06 |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | B5IIIp/B8V |
U-B color index | −0.60 |
B-V color index | −0.13 |
Variable type | eclipsing binary? |
Astrometry | |
Radial velocity (Rv) | +10 km/s |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: −35.74 mas/yr Dec.: −30.14 mas/yr |
Parallax (π) | 10.96 ± 0.88 mas |
Distance | 298 ly (91.2 pc) |
Absolute magnitude (MV) | −0.23/+1.27 |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
3 Centauri is a binary star in the constellation Centaurus. It is approximately 298 light years from Earth.
The primary component, 3 Centauri A, is a blue-white B-type giant with a mean apparent magnitude of +4.56. It is a variable star, and its brightness varies from magnitude +4.27 to +4.32 It is suspected the variations in luminosity are a result of the primary being an eclipsing binary, which would mean the system would consist of at least three objects. Its more distant companion, 3 Centauri B, is located 7.9 arcseconds away. It is a blue-white B-type main sequence dwarf and has an apparent magnitude of +6.06.