Alpha Serpentis

α Serpentis
Location of α Serpentis (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Serpens
Right ascension 15h 44m 16.07431s
Declination +06° 25 32.2633
Apparent magnitude (V) 2.623
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage Horizontal branch
Spectral type K2 IIIb CN1
U−B color index +1.248
B−V color index +1.167
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+2.63 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +133.84 mas/yr
Dec.: +44.81 mas/yr
Parallax (π)44.10±0.19 mas
Distance74.0 ± 0.3 ly
(22.68 ± 0.10 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+0.88±0.03
Details
Mass1.61±0.18 M
Radius12.19 R
Luminosity58.9±3 L
Surface gravity (log g)2.4 cgs
Temperature4,687±59 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]0.189 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)4.3 km/s
Age2.06±0.33 Gyr
Other designations
Unukalhai, Cor Serpentis, Alpha Ser, α Ser, 24 Serpentis, BD+06°3088, HD 140573, HIP 77070, HR 5854, SAO 121157, ADS 9765, CCDM 15442+0626
Database references
SIMBADdata

Alpha Serpentis or α Serpentis, formally named Unukalhai (/ˌjuːnək.ælˈh/), is a star in the head (Serpens Caput) of the equatorial constellation of Serpens. With an apparent visual magnitude of 2.6, this star is the brightest in the constellation and it can be viewed with the naked eye from most of the Earth. Parallax measurements yield an estimated distance of about 74 light-years (23 parsecs) from the Sun.