Iota Carinae
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Carina |
| Right ascension | 09h 17m 05.40686s |
| Declination | −59° 16′ 30.8353″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 2.21 |
| Characteristics | |
| Evolutionary stage | Supergiant |
| Spectral type | A7 Ib |
| U−B color index | +0.16 |
| B−V color index | +0.18 |
| Variable type | Suspected |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | 13.3 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −19.03 mas/yr Dec.: +13.11 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 4.26±0.1 mas |
| Distance | 770 ± 20 ly (235 ± 6 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | −5.1 |
| Details | |
| Mass | 6.9 M☉ |
| Radius | 46.4–50.1 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 4,900 L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 1.85±0.1 cgs |
| Temperature | 7,500–7,700 K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | −0.14 dex |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 10.0 km/s |
| Age | 56 Myr |
| Other designations | |
| iota Car, NSV 04444, CD−58°2529, CPD−58°1465, FK5 351, HD 80404, HIP 45556, HR 3699, SAO 236808 | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Iota Carinae is a star in the southern constellation of Carina. It has the official name Aspidiske, pronounced /ˌæspɪˈdɪskiː/; Iota Carinae is its Bayer designation, which is Latinized from ι Carinae and abbreviated Iota Car or ι Car. With an apparent visual magnitude of 2.2, it is one of the brighter stars in the night sky.
The star appears 46.0' (0.7668°) WSW of V357 Carinae, a mid-third-magnitude star, also forming part of the asterism and leading to its long, narrow projection which culminates in Canopus.
The star and rest of southern Carina never sets on places from about 34° S southwards including Cape Town; its northernmost viewpoints are unobstructed southern horizons near to the 30th parallel north, once a day.