Beta Sextantis

Star in the constellation Sextans From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Beta Sextantis, Latinized from β Sextantis, is a variable star in the equatorial constellation of Sextans. With an apparent visual magnitude of 5.07,[3] it is faintly visible to the naked eye on a dark night. According to the Bortle scale, it can be viewed from brighter lit suburban skies. The distance to this star, based upon an annual parallax shift of 8.89 mas,[2] is around 367 light years.

Quick Facts Constellation, Right ascension ...
β Sextantis
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A light curve for Beta Sextantis, plotted from TESS data,[1]
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Sextans
Right ascension 10h 30m 17.48029s[2]
Declination −00° 38 13.3145[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.07[3]
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage Main sequence[4]
Spectral type B6 V[5] or B5 IV/V[6]
U−B color index −0.51[3]
B−V color index −0.14[3]
Variable type α2 CVn[7]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)11.6±2.8[8] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −39.290 mas/yr[2]
Dec.: −23.582 mas/yr[2]
Parallax (π)8.8899±0.1477 mas[2]
Distance367 ± 6 ly
(112 ± 2 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−0.38[9]
Details
Mass4.01±0.07[4] M
Radius3.00[10] R
Luminosity330[4] L
Surface gravity (log g)4.21[11] cgs
Temperature13,870[4] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]0.19[11] dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)85±4[11] km/s
Age216[12] Myr
Other designations
β Sex, 30 Sextantis, BD+00°2663, FK5 2841, HD 90994, HIP 51437, HR 4119, SAO 137608[13]
Database references
SIMBADdata
Close

This star served as a primary standard in the MK spectral classification system with a stellar classification of B6 V,[5] indicating that it is a B-type main sequence star. However, Houk and Swift (1999) list a classification of B5 IV/V, suggesting it may be transitioning into a subgiant star.[6] Stellar evolution models support this is a main sequence star.[4] It has served as a uvby photometric standard, but is also categorized as an Alpha2 Canum Venaticorum variable[7] with a suspected period of 15.4 days. This lengthy a period conflicts with a relatively high projected rotational velocity of 85 km/s, leaving the explanation for the variance unresolved.[11][5]

References

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