Gliese 251

Gliese 251
Gliese 251
Location of Gliese 251 in the constellation Gemini

Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Gemini
Right ascension 06h 54m 48.95806s
Declination +33° 16 05.4383
Apparent magnitude (V) +10.11
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage main sequence
Spectral type M3.0Ve
U−B color index +1.20
B−V color index +1.60
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)22.30±0.19 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: -726.672 mas/yr
Dec.: -398.102 mas/yr
Parallax (π)179.0629±0.0280 mas
Distance18.215 ± 0.003 ly
(5.5846 ± 0.0009 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+11.12
Details
Mass0.360±0.015 M
Radius0.364±0.011 R
Luminosity0.01691±0.00028 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.96±0.07 cgs
Temperature3451±51 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]-0.03±0.16 dex
Rotation122.1+1.9
−2.2
 d
Rotational velocity (v sin i)≤2 km/s
Age8.69 Gyr
Other designations
GJ 251, HD 265866, HIP 33226, LHS 1879, LTT 11941, Wolf 294, 2MASS J06544902+3316058
Database references
SIMBADdata
Exoplanet Archivedata
ARICNSdata

Gliese 251, also known as HIP 33226 or HD 265866, is a star located 18.2 light-years away from the Solar System. Located in the constellation of Gemini, it is the nearest star in this constellation.:84 It is located near the boundary with Auriga, 49 arcminutes away from the bright star Theta Geminorum; due to its apparent magnitude of +9.89 it cannot be observed with the naked eye. The closest star to Gliese 251 is QY Aurigae, which is located 3.5 light years away.

Gliese 251 is a red dwarf with a spectral type of M3V with an effective temperature of about 3300 K. Its mass has been measured to be around 0.36 solar masses and its radius is about 36% solar radii. Its metallicity is likely slightly less than that of the Sun. Observations at infrared wavelengths rule out the presence of a circumstellar disk around it.