Gamma Canis Majoris

γ Canis Majoris
Location of γ Canis Majoris (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Canis Major
Right ascension 07h 03m 45.493s
Declination −15° 37′ 59.83″
Apparent magnitude (V) +4.10
Characteristics
Spectral type B8II
U−B color index −0.45
B−V color index −0.13
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+32.0 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −0.931 mas/yr
Dec.: −11.435 mas/yr
Parallax (π)7.5819±0.1868 mas
Distance430 ± 10 ly
(132 ± 3 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−1.4
Details
Mass4.15±0.06 M
Radius6.08±0.17 R
Luminosity537±25 L
Surface gravity (log g)3.51±0.02 cgs
Temperature11,732+38
−40
 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.24 dex
Rotation6.214 days
Rotational velocity (v sin i)30 km/s
Other designations
Muliphein, Muliphen, γ Canis Majoris, 23 Canis Majoris, BD−15°1625, FK5 271, GC 9320, HD 53244, HIP 34045, HR 2657, SAO 152303
Database references
SIMBADdata

Gamma Canis Majoris is a blue-white star in the constellation of Canis Major. Its name is a Bayer designation; it has the proper name Muliphein, pronounced /ˈmjuːlɪfn/. With an apparent visual magnitude of +4.10, it is faintly visible to the naked eye. The reason why this relatively faint star was given the 'gamma' designation is uncertain, but possibly because it is in the same part of the constellation as Sirius (alpha) and Mirzam (beta). Based on parallax measurements, it is located at a distance of 430 light-years (132 pc) from the Earth. It is drifting further away with a line of sight velocity of +32 km/s.