Gacrux
Star in the constellation Crux / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Gacrux[8] is the third-brightest star in the southern constellation of Crux, the Southern Cross. It has the Bayer designation Gamma Crucis, which is Latinised from γ Crucis and abbreviated Gamma Cru or γ Cru. With an apparent visual magnitude of +1.63,[9] it is the 26th brightest star in the night sky. A line from the two "Pointers", Alpha Centauri through Beta Centauri, leads to within 1° north of this star. Using parallax measurements made during the Hipparcos mission, it is located at a distance of 88.6 light-years (27.2 parsecs) from the Sun.[1] It is the nearest M-type red giant star to the Sun.[10]
Quick Facts Constellation, Right ascension ...
Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Crux |
Right ascension | 12h 31m 09.960s[1] |
Declination | −57° 06′ 47.568″[1] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | +1.64[2] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | M3.5 III[3] |
Apparent magnitude (J) | −1.99 |
U−B color index | +1.78[2] |
B−V color index | +1.59[2] |
Variable type | SRV[3] |
Astrometry | |
Radial velocity (Rv) | +20.6[4] km/s |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: +28.23 mas/yr[1] Dec.: −265.08 mas/yr[1] |
Parallax (π) | 36.83 ± 0.18 mas[1] |
Distance | 88.6 ± 0.4 ly (27.2 ± 0.1 pc) |
Absolute magnitude (MV) | −0.52[5] |
Details | |
Mass | 1.5±0.3[6] M☉ |
Radius | 120[7] R☉ |
Luminosity | 758[7] L☉ |
Temperature | 3,689[7] K |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
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