60 Aurigae

60 Aurigae is a binary star^[3] system in the northern constellation of Auriga. The pair have a combined apparent visual magnitude of 6.319^[2] and, based upon parallax measurements, they are approximately 210 light-years (64 parsecs) distant from the Earth.^[1]

60 Aurigae

Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Auriga
Right ascension	06h 53m 13.40058s[1]
Declination	+38° 26′ 16.8476″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)	6.319[2] (6.47/8.96)[3]
Characteristics
Spectral type	F5 V[4] (A8/G0)[3]
B−V color index	+0.328[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	+32.4[5] km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: +42.40[1] mas/yr Dec.: -179.12[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)	15.21±1.03 mas[1]
Distance	210 ± 10 ly (66 ± 4 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	2.11[2]
Orbit[6]
Period (P)	271.10±61.00 yr
Semi-major axis (a)	0.793±0.073″
Eccentricity (e)	0.487±0.090
Inclination (i)	58.4±5.4°
Longitude of the node (Ω)	156.4±7.0°
Periastron epoch (T)	2002.72±6.07
Argument of periastron (ω) (secondary)	59.7±19.9°
Details
Temperature	6,223[2] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]	+0.04[2] dex
Age	1.7[2] Gyr
Other designations
60 Aurigae, BD+38° 1636, HD 50037, HIP 33064, HR 2541, SAO 59576.[4]
Database references
SIMBAD	data

The combined spectrum of the pair match a stellar classification of F5 V.^[4] The primary component may be an A-type star with an apparent magnitude of 6.47,^[3] while the fainter, 8.96 magnitude secondary is possibly a G-type star. The pair orbit each other with a period of 271.1 years at an angular separation of 0.793 arcseconds.^[6]

Nomenclature

60 Aurigae is the Flamsteed designation of this star, also catalogued as HR 2541 and HD 50037. The designation 60 Aurigae has sometimes been identified with Psi⁸ Aurigae however Simbad lists Psi⁸ Aurigae as 61 Aurigae.^[7]