HD 16955

HD 16955
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Aries
Right ascension 02h 43m 51.24421s
Declination +25° 38 18.0493
Apparent magnitude (V) 6.376
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage main sequence
Spectral type A3 V
B−V color index 0.089±0.002
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−10.3±3.1 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −4.98±0.70 mas/yr
Dec.: +6.04±0.52 mas/yr
Parallax (π)9.59±0.76 mas
Distance340 ± 30 ly
(104 ± 8 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+1.18±0.13
Details
HD 16955 A
Mass2.25±0.08 M
Radius2.4 R
Luminosity26.9+3.3
−2.9
 L
Surface gravity (log g)3.97 cgs
Temperature8,450±164 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)175 km/s
Age1.6 Gyr
Other designations
BD+25°441, HD 16955, HIP 12744, HR 803, SAO 75539
Database references
SIMBADdata

HD 16955, also known as HR 803, is a double or multiple star. With an apparent visual magnitude of 6.376, is lies at or below the nominal limit for visibility with a typical naked eye. The measured annual parallax shift is 9.59 milliarcseconds, which yields an estimated distance of around 340 light years. The star is moving closer to the Sun with a heliocentric radial velocity of around -10 km/s.

This is an A-type main-sequence star with a stellar classification of A3 V. Hauck et al. (1995) identified this as a Lambda Boötis star with a circumstellar shell, but this now appears to be unlikely. It has 2.25 times the mass of the Sun and is spinning rapidly with a projected rotational velocity of 175 km/s. The star is radiating about 27 times the Sun's luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of roughly 8,450 K.

HD 16955 has a magnitude 10.36 companion, component B, which is located, as of 2015, at an angular separation of 3.0 arcseconds along a position angle of 19°. This is the likely source for the detected X-ray emission with a luminosity of 262.5×1020 W coming from these coordinates, since A-type stars are not expected to emit X-rays. Component C is a more distant magnitude 12.94 companion located at a separation of 51.10 arcseconds along a position angle of 92°, as of 2015.