171 G. Puppis

171 G. Puppis
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Puppis
A
Right ascension 07h 45m 35.02168s
Declination −34° 10 20.5143
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.38
B
Right ascension 07h 45m 38.42749s
Declination −33° 55 51.3414
Apparent magnitude (V) 16.7
Characteristics
A
Evolutionary stage Subgiant
Spectral type F9 V
U−B color index −0.085
B−V color index +0.56
Astrometry
A
Radial velocity (Rv)+102.6 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −221.54 mas/yr
Dec.: +1,722.11 mas/yr
Parallax (π)65.75±0.51 mas
Distance49.6 ± 0.4 ly
(15.2 ± 0.1 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+4.57
Orbit
PrimaryAa
CompanionAb
Period (P)8,406+29
−7
days
Semi-major axis (a)9.15+0.31
−0.33
 AU
Eccentricity (e)0.443+0.002
−0.001
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
184.38+0.16
−0.17
°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
4.762±0.013 km/s
Details
Aa
Mass0.85 M
Radius1.13+0.10
−0.09
 R
Luminosity1.80+0.49
−0.28
 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.34+0.07
−0.09
 cgs
Temperature5,858±70 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.78±0.06 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)4.4 km/s
Ab
Mass≥0.42±0.03 M
B
Mass0.507±0.007 M
Radius0.0135 R
Luminosity6.2×10−5 L
Surface gravity (log g)7.882±0.008 cgs
Temperature4,405±15 K
Other designations
GJ 288, HD 63077, HR 3018
A: CD−33°4113, HIP 37853, HR 3018, SAO 198404
B: VB 3, WD 0743-336
Database references
SIMBADA
B
ARICNSA
B

171 G. Puppis (171 Pup) is a triple star system in the constellation of Puppis – the stern of Argo Navis – of apparent magnitude +5.38. Lacking a Bayer designation, it is instead known by its Gould designation. Based upon parallax measurements, the system is 49.6 light years away from the Solar System.

The inner pair form a spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of around 23 years. The orbit has a semi-major axis of 9.15 AU and a mild eccentricity of 0.443. The primary has a spectral class of F9V, matching a late F-type main-sequence star. However, stellar evolution models suggest it has left the main sequence and is now a subgiant. Little is known about the secondary, but its mass should be at least 0.42 M.

There is a common proper motion companion, Van Biesbroeck 3 or WD 0743–340, at an angular separation of 869.65″ along a position angle of 2.81° from the inner pair. This is a white dwarf with a classification of DC11.0 and a temperature of 4,600 K, making it one of the coolest white dwarfs known.

171 G. Puppis is believed to be among the oldest star systems in the solar neighbourhood, being of the Population II. The primary's metal-to-hydrogen ratio is a logarithm of −0.78, translating to 16% of the Sun's abundance. In the early universe, the metallicity of the interstellar medium was much lower than that of the current universe.