| |
Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Taurus |
Right ascension | 04h31m 40.08690s[3] |
Declination | +18° 13′ 56.6424″[3] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 10.40[4] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | M2.0 + M3.5[5] |
Astrometry | |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: 9.1[6] mas/yr Dec.: −17.8[6] mas/yr |
Distance | 460 ly (140[7] pc) |
Orbit[8] | |
Primary | A[a] |
Companion | B |
Period (P) | 155 yr |
Semi-major axis (a) | 0.172+0.002 −0.003″ |
Eccentricity (e) | 0.742+0.025 −0.034 |
Inclination (i) | 0.0° |
Argument of periastron (ω) (secondary) | −42.2+2.0 −4.7° |
Details[5] | |
A[a] | |
Mass | 0.37 M☉ |
Radius | 1.1 R☉ |
Luminosity | 0.17 L☉ |
B | |
Mass | 0.29 M☉ |
Radius | 1.7 R☉ |
Luminosity | 0.31 L☉ |
Temperature | 3,550[7] K |
Age | 4.6[7] Myr |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
XZ Tauri is a binary system approximately 460 light-years away in the constellation Taurus. The system consists of two T Tauri stars orbiting each other about 6 billion kilometers apart (roughly the same distance as Pluto is from the Sun). The system made news in 2000 when a superflare was observed in the system.
A third star, component C, has been observed at a separation of 0.09″, but subsequent observations failed to find it.[10][8] The T Tauri star HL Tauri, 23″ away, is also sometimes listed as a companion.[9]