Rho Ceti
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS) | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cetus |
| Right ascension | 02h 25m 57.006s |
| Declination | −12° 17′ 25.708″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 4.885 |
| Characteristics | |
| Evolutionary stage | subgiant |
| Spectral type | A0 V |
| U−B color index | +0.001 |
| B−V color index | −0.037 |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +18.9±2.0 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −11.596 mas/yr Dec.: −9.786 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 5.8054±0.1358 mas |
| Distance | 560 ± 10 ly (172 ± 4 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | −0.85 |
| Details | |
| Mass | 2.3 M☉ |
| Radius | 6.3 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 328 L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 3.56 cgs |
| Temperature | 9,505 K |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 219 km/s |
| Age | 72 Myr |
| Other designations | |
| ρ Cet, 72 Cet, BD−12°451, FK5 1066, HD 15130, HIP 11345, HR 708, SAO 148385 | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Rho Ceti is a star in the equatorial constellation of Cetus. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from ρ Ceti, and abbreviated Rho Cet or ρ Cet. This star is faintly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.885. The distance to this star, based upon an annual parallax shift of 5.81 mas, is around 560 light years. It is drifting further away with a line of sight velocity component of +19 km/s.
This star has a stellar classification of A0 V, which is presenting as an A-type main sequence star. However, it may be in the subgiant stage of its evolution. It is spinning rapidly with a projected rotational velocity of 219 km/s, giving the star an oblate shape with an equatorial bulge that is 10% larger than the polar radius. The star has an estimated size 6.3 times the radius of the Sun and is radiating 328 times the solar luminosity from its outer atmosphere at an effective temperature of 9,505 K.