Nu Aurigae, Latinised from ν Aurigae, is the Bayer designation for a star in the northern constellationofAuriga. It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 3.96[2] and is approximately 200 light-years (61parsecs) distant from the Earth.[1] This is an evolved giant star with a stellar classification of G9.5 III.[9] It is a red clump star, which indicates that it is generating energy through the fusionofhelium at its core.[10] The outer envelope has expanded to 18 times the radius of the Sun and cooled to 4,576 K,[7] giving it the characteristic yellow-hued glow of a G-type star.[11] It shines with 126 times the luminosity of the Sun.[7]
| |
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Auriga |
| Right ascension | 05h51m 29.36946s[1] |
| Declination | +39° 08′ 54.6861″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 3.957[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | G9.5 III Fe1 Ba0.2 + wd[3] |
| U−B color index | +1.084[2] |
| B−V color index | +1.138[2] |
| R−I color index | 0.56 |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +9.92 ± 0.14[4] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: +7.958 mas/yr[1] Dec.: +0.713 mas/yr[1] |
| Parallax (π) | 16.1414 ± 0.4427 mas[1] |
| Distance | 202 ± 6 ly (62 ± 2 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | −0.27[5] |
| Details | |
| Mass | 2.12[6] M☉ |
| Radius | 17.85+0.51 −0.53[7] R☉ |
| Luminosity | 126±8[7] L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 2.4[4] cgs |
| Temperature | 4,576±50[7] K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | –0.14[4] dex |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 5.0[4] km/s |
| Age | 1.11[6] Gyr |
| Other designations | |
ν Aur, 32 Aurigae, ADS 4440, BD+39 1429, FK5 221, HD 39003, HIP 27673, HR 2012, SAO 58502.[8] | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
This is an astrometric binary with a suspected white dwarf companion.[3] A 10th-magnitude star 54.6 arcseconds away is an optical companion.
