KT Lupi

KT Lupi

A light curve for KT Lupi, plotted from Hipparcos data
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Lupus
Right ascension 15h 35m 53.24806s
Declination −44° 57 30.1982
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.55 (4.66 + 6.62)
Characteristics
Spectral type B3 V + B6 V
B−V color index −0.175±0.003
Variable type Be
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+6.5±2.8 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −20.53 mas/yr
Dec.: −21.23 mas/yr
Parallax (π)7.62±0.43 mas
Distance430 ± 20 ly
(131 ± 7 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−1.03
Details
KT Lup A
Mass5.9±0.1 M
Radius3.00±0.06 R
Luminosity794+791
−396
 L
Surface gravity (log g)3.50±0.04 cgs
Temperature18,400±184 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)30±0.6 km/s
Age21.0±10.6 Myr
KT Lup B
Mass2.79 M
Other designations
d Lup, KT Lup, CD−44°10239, HD 138769, HIP 76371, HR 5781, SAO 225950, WDS J15359-4457AB
Database references
SIMBADdata

KT Lupi is a visual binary star system in the constellation Lupus. It is visible to the naked eye with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 4.55. As of 1983, the pair had an angular separation of 2.19±0.03. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 7.6 mas as seen from Earth's orbit, it is located 430 light-years from the Sun. The system is moving further from the Earth with a heliocentric radial velocity of +6.5 km/s. It is a member of the Upper Centaurus-Lupus sub-group of the Scorpius–Centaurus association.

The primary, component A, is a variable Be star, with the variation being modulated by rotation. It is visual magnitude 4.66 with a stellar classification of B3 V, matching a B-type main-sequence star. Hiltner et al. (1969) gave a class of B3 IVp, which is still used in some studies. It is a helium-weak chemically peculiar star showing an enhanced silicon patch near the equator and a silicon-weak region close to the pole. The star is about 21 million years old with nearly six times the mass of the Sun and three times the Sun's radius. It is radiating roughly 794 times the Sun's luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 18,400 K.

The secondary companion, component B, is of magnitude 6.62 with a class of B6 V. It has 2.79 times the Sun's mass.