Mu Pictoris

μ Pictoris, Latinised as Mu Pictoris, is a binary star^[3] system in the southern constellation Pictor. It is bright enough to be dimly visible to the naked eye, having a combined apparent visual magnitude of 5.69.^[2] Based upon an annual parallax shift of 4.31 mas as seen from Earth,^[1] the system is located roughly 760 light years distant from the Sun. As of 2010, the pair have an angular separation of 2.46 arc seconds along a position angle of 221°.^[4]

Mu Pictoris

Observation data Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation	Pictor
Right ascension	06h 31m 58.31021s[1]
Declination	−58° 45′ 13.8117″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)	5.69[2] (5.71 + 9.43)[3]
Characteristics
Spectral type	B9 Ve[4] or B9 IVn + A8 V:p?[5]
U−B color index	−0.17[2]
B−V color index	−0.06[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	+0.40±1.00[6] km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: −1.34[1] mas/yr Dec.: +1.77[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)	4.31±0.38 mas[1]
Distance	760 ± 70 ly (230 ± 20 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	0.20/3.75[7]
Details
μ Pic A
Mass	3.60±0.09[8] M☉
Luminosity	355[8] L☉
Temperature	10,568[8] K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)	228[8] km/s
Other designations
μ Pic, CPD−58°722, HD 46860, HIP 31137, HR 2412, SAO 234564[9]
Database references
SIMBAD	data

The primary, designated component A, is a blue-white star with a visual magnitude of 5.71^[3] and a stellar classification of B9 Ve^[4] or B9 IVn.^[5] The first classification suggests is a B-type main-sequence star, with the 'e' suffix indicating a Be star. The second may instead indicate a somewhat more evolved B-type star that is spinning rapidly, resulting in "nebulous" absorption lines. Photometrically, it shows a pulsation period of 0.397 days, which is likely the same as the rotation period.^[10]

The secondary companion, component B, is a white-hued star of magnitude 9.43^[3] with a classification of A8 V:p?.^[5] This indicates it is an A-type main-sequence star, with the 'p?' suffix suggesting it may be chemically peculiar while the ':' notation says there is some uncertainty about the general classification.