Kappa Centauri
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| κ Cen AB | |
| Right ascension | 14h 59m 09.6849s |
| Declination | −42° 06′ 15.107″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +3.14 (3.34 + 4.71) |
| κ Cen C | |
| Right ascension | 14h 59m 10.0318s |
| Declination | −42° 06′ 14.602″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 11.5 |
| Characteristics | |
| κ Cen AB | |
| Evolutionary stage | main sequence |
| Spectral type | B2V + B3V |
| U−B color index | −0.805 |
| B−V color index | −0.204 |
| Variable type | Candidate β Cep |
| κ Cen C | |
| Evolutionary stage | main sequence |
| Spectral type | K2V |
| Astrometry | |
| κ Cen AB | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +8.0 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −17.62 mas/yr Dec.: −22.51 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 8.14±0.33 mas |
| Distance | 400 ± 20 ly (123 ± 5 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | −2.2 |
| κ Cen C | |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −18.769 mas/yr Dec.: −23.688 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 7.4667±0.0994 mas |
| Distance | 437 ± 6 ly (134 ± 2 pc) |
| Orbit | |
| Primary | κ Cen A |
| Name | κ Cen B |
| Period (P) | 58.52±1.50 years |
| Semi-major axis (a) | 0.287″±0.008″ |
| Eccentricity (e) | 0.304±0.009 |
| Inclination (i) | 90.9±0.5° |
| Longitude of the node (Ω) | 156.1±0.5° |
| Periastron epoch (T) | 2011.10±0.30 |
| Argument of periastron (ω) (secondary) | 215.1±2.0° |
| Details | |
| κ Cen A | |
| Mass | 8.38±0.27 M☉ |
| Radius | 4.4±0.7 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 2,500 L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 4.02±0.20 cgs |
| Temperature | 20,900 K |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 10 km/s |
| Age | 18.2±3.2 Myr |
| κ Cen B | |
| Mass | 4.41±0.36 M☉ |
| Temperature | 18,800 K |
| κ Cen C | |
| Mass | 0.67 M☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 4.65 cgs |
| Temperature | 4,830 K |
| Other designations | |
| κ Cen, CD−41°9342, FK5 553, HD 132200, HIP 73334, HR 5576, SAO 225344, WDS J14592-4206A | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Kappa Centauri is a triple star system in the southern constellation of Centaurus. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from κ Centauri, and abbreviated Kappa Cen or κ Cen. With an apparent visual magnitude of +3.14, it can be viewed with the naked eye on a dark night. Parallax measurements place it at an estimated distance of 400 light-years (120 parsecs) from Earth.