Gamma Centauri
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| Observation data Epoch J2000 |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation (pronunciation) |
Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 12h 41m 31.0s |
| Declination | −48° 57′ 35″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +2.2 (+2.9/+2.9) |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | A0III/A0III |
| U-B color index | −0.01 |
| B-V color index | −0.01 |
| Variable type | none |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | −6 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −187.28 mas/yr Dec.: −1.20 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 25.01 ± 1.01 mas |
| Distance | 130.4 ly (40.0 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | −0.8 (−0.1/−0.1) |
| Details | |
| Mass | 2.8 M☉ |
| Radius | ? R☉ |
| Luminosity | ? L☉ |
| Temperature | 9,300 K |
| Metallicity | ? |
| Rotation | ~81 km/s. |
| Age | ? years |
| Visual binary orbit | |
| Companion | γ Centauri B |
| Period (P) | 83.0 yr |
| Semimajor axis (a) | 0.86" |
| Eccentricity (e) | 0.79 |
| Inclination (i) | 114° |
| Longitude of the node (Ω) | 2° |
| Periastron epoch (T) | 1931.2 |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Gamma Centauri (γ Cen / γ Centauri) is a star in the constellation Centaurus. It also has the traditional name Muhlifain, not to be confused with Muliphein, which is γ Canis Majoris; both names derive from the same Arabic root.
Gamma Centauri is a double star approximately 130 light years from Earth, which consists of two spectral type A0 stars each of apparent magnitude +2.9. For the resolution of the double star system a telescope of at least 15 centimeters in aperture is necessary. They have an orbital period of 83 years.
| Year | Angular separation | Position angle |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.4″ | 353° |
| 2000 | 1.0″ | 347° |
| 2005 | 0.7″ | 341° |
| 2010 | 0.4″ | 324° |
 |
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