Sigma Serpentis

σ Serpentis
Location of σ Serpentis (circled in red)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Serpens
Right ascension 16h 22m 04.34822s
Declination +01° 01′ 44.5566″
Apparent magnitude (V) +4.82
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage main sequence
Spectral type F3 V
U−B color index +0.025
B−V color index +0.338
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−49.3±0.9 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −158.172 mas/yr
Dec.: +50.612 mas/yr
Parallax (π)35.5388±0.1366 mas
Distance91.8 ± 0.4 ly
(28.1 ± 0.1 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+2.63
Details
Mass1.54 M
Radius1.81 R
Luminosity7.2 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.11 cgs
Temperature7,009 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.01 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)77.7 km/s
Age1.15±0.10 Gyr
Other designations
σ Ser, 50 Serpentis, BD+01°3215, FK5 1427, HD 147449, HIP 80179, HR 6093, SAO 121540
Database references
SIMBADdata

Sigma Serpentis, Latinized from σ Serpentis, is a star in the equatorial constellation Serpens. It is faintly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of +4.82. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 35.54 mas as seen from Earth, it is located 92 light-years from the Sun. The star is moving closer to the Sun with a radial velocity of −49 km/s.

Barry (1970) assigned this star a stellar classification of F3 V, indicating an ordinary F-type main-sequence star. It is about one billion years old and is spinning with a projected rotational velocity of 77.7 km/s. The star has an estimated 1.5 times the mass of the Sun and is radiating 7.2 times the Sun's luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 7,009 K.

A candidate red dwarf companion star, of spectral type M2V, was identified in 2012 by Kevin Luhman and collaborators. It is 43″ from the primary, corresponding to a projected separation of 1200 AU. Gaia DR3 astrometry confirms a similar parallax and proper motion.