Epsilon Leporis

Epsilon Leporis, Latinized from ε Leporis, is a third-magnitude star in the southern constellation Lepus. The apparent visual magnitude of +3.166^[2] places it third in brightness among the stars in this constellation. Based upon parallax measurements, it is located at a distance of around 213 light-years (65 parsecs) from Earth.^[1]

ε Leporis

Location of ε Leporis (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation	Lepus
Right ascension	05h 05m 27.66537s[1]
Declination	−22° 22′ 15.7239″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)	+3.166[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type	K4 III[3]
U−B color index	+1.783[2]
B−V color index	+1.478[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	+1.0[4] km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: +21.13[1] mas/yr Dec.: −73.11[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)	15.5999±0.1074 mas[5]
Distance	209 ± 1 ly (64.1 ± 0.4 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	−1.02±0.10[6]
Details[6]
Mass	1.70±0.19 M☉
Radius	40.1±3.2 R☉
Luminosity	372[7] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)	1.43±0.09 cgs
Temperature	4,131 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]	−0.02 dex
Age	1.72±0.47 Gyr
Other designations
ε Lep, 2 Leporis, NSV 1826, BD−22°1000, FK5 186, HD 32887, HIP 23685, HR 1654, SAO 170051[8]
Database references
SIMBAD	data

This is an evolved giant star with a stellar classification of K4 III^[3] that has expanded to 40 times the Sun's radius. It is about 1.72 billion years old and has 1.70 times the mass of the Sun, with a luminosity 372^[7] times as great. The outer atmosphere is cooler than the Sun's with an effective temperature of 4,131 K,^[6] giving it the orange hue of a K-type star.^[9] In terms of its composition, this star shows a similar abundance of elements other than hydrogen and helium to the Sun.^[6]

The envelope of this star is undergoing oscillations that show up as changes in the star's radial velocity. Over long durations these follow a linear trend, in combination with shorter period oscillations occurring over a few days. These oscillations are unlikely to be the result of rotational module as that would imply a high rotation rate, which would display itself through strong X-ray emissions. Instead, they may be the result of solar-like and Mira-like oscillations.^[10]