Alpha Phoenicis

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**Alpha Phoenicis**
Observation data Epoch J2000
Constellation (pronunciation)	Phoenix
Right ascension	00^h 26^m 17.1^s
Declination	-42° 18′ 21.5″
Apparent magnitude (V)	2.40
Characteristics
Spectral type	K0 III
U-B color index	0.88
B-V color index	1.08
Variable type	?
Astrometry
Radial velocity (R_v)	+75.2 km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: 232.76 mas/yr Dec.: -353.64 mas/yr
Parallax (π)	42.14 ± 0.78 mas
Distance	77 ± 1 ly (23.7 ± 0.4 pc)
Absolute magnitude (M_V)	0.52
Details
Mass	2.5 M_☉
Radius	11.1 R_☉
Luminosity	62 L_☉
Temperature	4,850 K
Metallicity	?
Rotation	?
Age	? years
Other designations
Ankaa, Nair al Zaurak, Cymbae, Lucida Cymbae, HR 99, CD -42°116, HD 2261, LTT 231, GCTP 71.00, SAO 215093, FK5 12, HIP 2081.

Alpha Phoenicis (α Phe / α Phoenicis) is the brightest star in the constellation Phoenix. It also has the traditional name Ankaa (phoenix in Arabic). Medieval Arab astronomers formed the constellation of the dhow (small boat) where the Phoenix is, so another popular name for the star is Nair al-Zaurak, or "the bright one of the boat".

Ankaa is similar to many of the visible stars of the night sky, being an orange giant of relatively average stellar size. It is currently thought to be in the midst of a short but stable helium burning phase of its stellar evolution, although it likely won't be long in astronomical terms before it sheds its outer layers in a planetary nebula and ends its life quietly as a white dwarf. It is known that Ankaa has a small stellar companion, but currently little to nothing is known about the companion.