Chi Aquarii

χ Aquarii
Location of χ Aquarii (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Aquarius
Right ascension 23h 16m 50.939s
Declination −07° 43 35.40
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.75–5.10
Characteristics
Spectral type M3 III
U−B color index +1.60
B−V color index +1.60
Variable type SRb?
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−13.72±0.86 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −17.721 mas/yr
Dec.: −13.676 mas/yr
Parallax (π)6.1612±0.2060 mas
Distance530 ± 20 ly
(162 ± 5 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−1.43
Details
Radius142 R
Luminosity2,598 L
Surface gravity (log g)0.128 cgs
Temperature3,456 K
Other designations
χ Aqr, 92 Aquarii, AAVSO 2311-08, BD−08 6076, GC 32401, HD 219576, HIP 114939, HR 8850, SAO 146612, PPM 207366
Database references
SIMBADdata

Chi Aquarii is a star in the equatorial constellation of Aquarius. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from χ Aquarii, and abbreviated Chi Aqr or χ Aqr. The distance to this star, based upon parallax measurements with a 7% margin of error, is 530 light-years (160 parsecs). It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of about 5.

The variability of the brightness of Chi Aquarii was announced by Joel Stebbins and Charles Morse Huffer in 1928, based on observations made at Washburn Observatory. It is classified as a semi-regular variable star and its brightness varies by an amplitude of 0.0636 in magnitude. The identified pulsation periods are 32.3, 38.5, and 44.9 days.

This is an aging red giant star with a spectral classification of M3 III. After the supply of hydrogen at its core was exhausted, it evolved off the main sequence, expanding to about 142 times the radius of the Sun. The star is radiating 2,598 times the luminosity of the Sun from its enlarged photosphere at an effective temperature of 3,456 K.