Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 2, 2026

T Centauri

T Centauri is a variable star located in the far southern constellation Centaurus. It varies between magnitudes 5.56 and 8.44 over 181.4 days, making it intermittently visible to the naked eye. Pulsating between spectral classes K0:e and M4II:e, it has been classed as a semiregular variable, though Sebastian Otero of the American Association of Variable Star Observers has noted its curve more aligned with RV Tauri variable stars and has classified it as one.

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Jun 2, 2026
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T Centauri
Location of T Centauri (circled in red)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Centaurus
Right ascension 13h 41m 45.56353s1
Declination −33° 35′ 50.5600″1
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.56 – 8.442
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage AGB or post-AGB2
Spectral type K0:e-M4II:e2
Variable type semiregular3
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+32.6±2.51 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −27.747 mas/yr1
Dec.: +3.365 mas/yr1
Parallax (π)2.4007±0.0687 mas1
Distance1,360 ± 40 ly
(420 ± 10 pc)
Other designations
T Cen, CD−32°9549, HD 119090, HIP 66825, HR 5147, SAO 2047394
Database references
SIMBADdata
A visual band light curve for T Centauri, plotted from ASAS data5 source ↗

T Centauri is a variable star located in the far southern constellation Centaurus. It varies between magnitudes 5.56 and 8.44 over 181.4 days, making it intermittently visible to the naked eye.2 Pulsating between spectral classes K0:e and M4II:e, it has been classed as a semiregular variable,3 though Sebastian Otero of the American Association of Variable Star Observers has noted its curve more aligned with RV Tauri variable stars and has classified it as one.2

The variability of the star was discovered in 1894 by Ernest Elliott Markwick, and independently by Williamina Fleming in 1895.67

References

References

  1. 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.
  2. Watson, Christopher (27 December 2012). "T Centauri". AAVSO Website. American Association of Variable Star Observers. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  3. Samus', N. N.; Kazarovets, E. V.; Durlevich, O. V.; Kireeva, N. N.; Pastukhova, E. N. (2017). "General catalogue of variable stars: Version GCVS 5.1". Astronomy Reports. 61 (1): 80. Bibcode:2017ARep...61...80S. doi:10.1134/S1063772917010085.
  4. "T Centauri". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  5. "ASAS All Star Catalogue". The All Sky Automated Survey. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  6. Markwick, E. E. (July 1895). "Note on the variable star T Centauri, Cord. GC. 18609". Astronomische Nachrichten. 138 (13): 213. Bibcode:1895AN....138..213M. doi:10.1002/asna.18951381304.
  7. "T Cen". The International Variable Star Index. AAVSO. Retrieved 19 December 2024.