Alnilam

Alnilam
Location of Alnilam (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Orion
Pronunciation /ælˈnlæm/
Right ascension 05h 36m 12.81s
Declination −01° 12′ 06.9″
Apparent magnitude (V) 1.69 (1.64 – 1.74)
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage Blue supergiant
Spectral type B0 Ia
U−B color index −1.03
B−V color index −0.18
Variable type α Cygni
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)25.9 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: 1.49 mas/yr
Dec.: −1.06 mas/yr
Parallax (π)1.65±0.45 mas
Distance1,250±26 ly
(384±8 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−6.89
Details
Mass28.4±2.0 M
Radius33.6±1.8 (equatorial) R
22.3±1.2 (polar) R
Luminosity271,000±38,000 L
Surface gravity (log g)3.01±0.10 cgs
Temperature25,000±1,000 K
Rotation4.27+1.00
−0.00
days
Rotational velocity (v sin i)220+40
−100
 km/s
Age4.47 Myr
Other designations
Alnilam, TD1 4963, ε Ori, 46 Orionis, Orionis, BD−01°969, FK5 210, HD 37128, HIP 26311, HR 1903, SAO 132346, 參宿二
Database references
SIMBADdata

Alnilam is the central star of Orion's Belt in the equatorial constellation of Orion. It has the Bayer designation ε Orionis, which is Latinised to Epsilon Orionis and abbreviated Epsilon Ori or ε Ori. This is a massive, blue supergiant star some 1,250 light-years distant. It is estimated to be 270,000 times as luminous as the Sun, and 28 times as massive.