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Star in the constellation Eridanus / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Epsilon Eridani (Latinized from ε Eridani), proper name Ran,[19] is a star in the southern constellation of Eridanus. At a declination of −9.46°, it is visible from most of Earth's surface. Located at a distance 10.5 light-years (3.2 parsecs) from the Sun, it has an apparent magnitude of 3.73, making it the third-closest individual star (or star system) visible to the naked eye.
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The star is estimated to be less than a billion years old.[20] This relative youth gives Epsilon Eridani a higher level of magnetic activity than the Sun, with a stellar wind 30 times as strong. The star's rotation period is 11.2 days at the equator. Epsilon Eridani is smaller and less massive than the Sun, and has a lower level of elements heavier than helium.[21] It is a main-sequence star of spectral class K2, with an effective temperature of about 5,000 K (8,500 °F), giving it an orange hue. It is a candidate member of the Ursa Major Moving Group of stars, which share a similar motion through the Milky Way, implying these stars shared a common origin in an open cluster.
Periodic changes in Epsilon Eridani's radial velocity have yielded evidence of a giant planet orbiting it, designated Epsilon Eridani b.[22] The discovery of the planet was initially controversial,[23] but most astronomers now regard the planet as confirmed. In 2016 the planet was given the proper name AEgir [sic].[24] The Epsilon Eridani planetary system also includes a debris disc consisting of a Kuiper belt analogue at 70 au from the star and warm dust between about 3 au and 20 au from the star.[25][26] The gap in the debris disc between 20 and 70 au implies the likely existence of outer planets in the System.
As one of the nearest Sun-like stars,[27] Epsilon Eridani has been the target of several observations in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Epsilon Eridani appears in science fiction stories and has been suggested as a destination for interstellar travel.[28] From Epsilon Eridani, the Sun would appear as star in Serpens, with an apparent magnitude of 2.4.[note 1]