HR 4796

HR 4796

A dust ring encircles HR 4796's primary star
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Centaurus
A
Right ascension 12h 36m 01.0318s
Declination −39° 52′ 10.223″
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.77
B
Right ascension 12h 36m 00.5491s
Declination −39° 52′ 15.694″
Apparent magnitude (V) 13.30
Characteristics
A
Evolutionary stage main sequence
Spectral type A0 V
B−V color index +0.01
B
Evolutionary stage pre-main-sequence
Spectral type M2.5 V
Astrometry
A
Radial velocity (Rv)+10.95±0.59 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −55.653 mas/yr
Dec.: −23.880 mas/yr
Parallax (π)14.1300±0.0471 mas
Distance230.8 ± 0.8 ly
(70.8 ± 0.2 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+1.46
B
Radial velocity (Rv)+6.27±6.72 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −59.064 mas/yr
Dec.: −30.026 mas/yr
Parallax (π)14.1490±0.0220 mas
Distance230.5 ± 0.4 ly
(70.7 ± 0.1 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+8.99
Details
Component A
Mass2.18±0.10 M
Radius1.68 R
Luminosity23 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.43 cgs
Temperature9,378 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]–0.03 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)152 km/s
Age8±2 Myr
Component B
Mass0.3 M
Radius0.89 R
Luminosity0.130 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.26 cgs
Temperature3,664 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)12.1 km/s
Age8±2 Myr
Other designations
CD−39°7717, CPD−39°5622, GC 17164, HD 109573, HIP 61498, HR 4796, SAO 203621, CCDM J12360-3952, 2MASS J12360103-3952102
Database references
SIMBADdata

HR 4796 is a binary star system in the southern constellation of Centaurus. Parallax measurements put it at a distance of 235 light-years (72 parsecs) from the Earth. The two components of this system have an angular separation of 7.7 arcseconds, which, at their estimated distance, is equivalent to a projected separation of about 560 Astronomical Units (AU), or 560 times the separation of the Earth from the Sun. The star and its ring resemble an eye, and it is sometimes known by the nickname "Sauron's Eye".