  | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox ICRS | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 14h 06m 02.768s1 |
| Declination | −41° 10′ 46.68″1 |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +4.353±0.0072 |
| Characteristics | |
| Evolutionary stage | main sequence |
| Spectral type | B2 V3 |
| U−B color index | −0.774±0.0132 |
| B−V color index | −0.195±0.0062 |
| Variable type | β Cep4 |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +125 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −23.764 mas/yr1 Dec.: −20.041 mas/yr1 |
| Parallax (π) | 6.4882±0.2164 mas1 |
| Distance | 500 ± 20 ly (154 ± 5 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | −1.50±0.146 |
| Details6 | |
| Mass | 7.1±0.2 M☉ |
| Radius | 3.5±0.3 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 2,090+310 −270 L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 4.22±0.05 cgs |
| Temperature | 20,800±300 K |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 18±12 km/s |
| Age | 12+4 −5 Myr |
| Other designations | |
| χ Cen, CD−40°8405, GC 19017, HD 122980, HIP 68862, HR 5285, SAO 2246737 | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Chi Centauri is a blue-white star in the southern constellation of Centaurus. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from χ Centauri, and abbreviated Chi Cen or χ Cen. This star is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude that varies around +4.35.2 Based on parallax measurements, it is located at a distance of approximately 500 light years from the Earth. The star is drifting further away with a line of sight velocity component of +12 km/s.5
χ Centauri has a stellar classification of B2 V,3 presenting as a young B-type main-sequence star. It is classified as a Beta Cephei type variable star and its brightness varies by 0.02 magnitudes with a period of 50.40 minutes. At the age of around 12 million years, it has 7.1 times the mass of the Sun and 3.5 times the Sun's radius. This star is radiating 2,090 times the luminosity of the Sun from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 20,800 K.6
This star is a proper motion member of the Upper Centaurus–Lupus sub-group in the Scorpius–Centaurus OB association, the nearest such co-moving association of massive stars to the Sun.9
References
References
- Vallenari, A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (2023), "Gaia Data Release 3. Summary of the content and survey properties", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 674: A1, arXiv:2208.00211, Bibcode:2023A&A...674A...1G, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202243940, S2CID 244398875 Gaia DR3 record for this source at VizieR.
- Nieva, M.-F. (February 2013). "Temperature, gravity, and bolometric correction scales for non-supergiant OB stars". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 550: A26. arXiv:1212.0928. Bibcode:2013A&A...550A..26N. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201219677. S2CID 119275940.
- Tetzlaff, N.; et al. (January 2011). "A catalogue of young runaway Hipparcos stars within 3 kpc from the Sun". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 410 (1): 190–200. arXiv:1007.4883. Bibcode:2011MNRAS.410..190T. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17434.x. S2CID 118629873.
- Samus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007-2013)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S. 1. Bibcode:2009yCat....102025S.
- Wilson, R. E. (1953). General Catalogue of Stellar Radial Velocities. Carnegie Institute of Washington D.C. Bibcode:1953GCRV..C......0W.
- Nieva, María-Fernanda; Przybilla, Norbert (2014). "Fundamental properties of nearby single early B-type stars". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 566: A7. arXiv:1412.1418. Bibcode:2014A&A...566A...7N. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201423373. S2CID 119227033.
- "chi Cen". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
- "MAST: Barbara A. Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes". Space Telescope Science Institute. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- de Geus, E. J.; et al. (June 1989). "Physical parameters of stars in the Scorpio-Centaurus OB association". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 216 (1–2): 44–61. Bibcode:1989A&A...216...44D.