54 Arietis

54 Arietis

A light curve for 54 Arietis, plotted from Hipparcos data
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Aries
Right ascension 03h 08m 21.10890s
Declination +18° 47 42.1886
Apparent magnitude (V) 6.27
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage AGB
Spectral type M0 III
B−V color index 1.560±0.014
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+44.32±0.22 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +38.133 mas/yr
Dec.: −14.295 mas/yr
Parallax (π)4.3947±0.1037 mas
Distance740 ± 20 ly
(228 ± 5 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−0.54
Details
Radius40.7+3.0
−2.6
 R
Luminosity387±11 L
Temperature4013+137
−141
 K
Other designations
54 Ari, BD+18°414, FK5 4285, GC 3742, HD 19460, HIP 14586, HR 940, SAO 93293
Database references
SIMBADdata

54 Arietis is a star in the northern zodiac constellation of Aries. 54 Arietis is the Flamsteed designation. It is a challenge to view with the naked eye even under good viewing conditions, having an apparent visual magnitude of 6.27. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 4.39 mas, it is located approximately 740 light-years (230 parsecs) distant from Earth, and it is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +44 km/s. The brightness of the star is diminished by 0.15 in magnitude from extinction caused by interstellar gas and dust. The star is positioned near the ecliptic and thus is subject to lunar occultations.

This is an aging red giant star with a stellar classification of M0 III that is currently evolving along the asymptotic giant branch. Having exhausted the supply of hydrogen at its core, the star has expanded to 41 times the Sun's radius. It varies slightly in brightness, with a periodicity of 6.2 days and an amplitude change of 0.0096 in magnitude. On average it is radiating 387 times the luminosity of the Sun from its enlarged photosphere at an effective temperature of 4,013 K.