Pi Cassiopeiae

Pi Cassiopeiae

Map of the Bayer-designated stars in Cassiopeia. Pi Cassiopeiae is circled.
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Cassiopeia
Right ascension 00h 43m 28.07045s
Declination +47° 01 28.3694
Apparent magnitude (V) +4.949
Characteristics
Spectral type A5V + A5V
B−V color index +0.171
Variable type Ellipsoidal
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+12.9±0.8 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −23.71±0.23 mas/yr
Dec.: −36.84±0.18 mas/yr
Parallax (π)18.63±0.32 mas
Distance175 ± 3 ly
(53.7 ± 0.9 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+1.30
Orbit
Period (P)1.9642 d
Eccentricity (e)0.00
Periastron epoch (T)2427535.74 JD
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
0.00°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
120.5 km/s
Semi-amplitude (K2)
(secondary)
122.1 km/s
Details
A
Mass1.82 M
Radius1.9 R
Luminosity22 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.41 cgs
Temperature8,392±285 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)60 km/s
Age251 Myr
B
Mass1.87 M
Radius1.9 R
Rotational velocity (v sin i)65 km/s
Other designations
π Cas, 20 Cas, BD+46°146, HD 4058, HIP 3414, HR 184, SAO 36602
Database references
SIMBADdata

Pi Cassiopeiae, Latinized from π Cassiopeiae, is a close binary star system in the constellation Cassiopeia. It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of +4.949. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 18.63 mas as seen from Earth, this system is located about 175 light years from the Sun.

This is a double-lined spectroscopic binary system with an orbital period of nearly two days in a circular orbit. It is classified as a rotating ellipsoidal variable star and its brightness varies by 0.02 magnitudes with a period of 23.57 hours, which equals half of its orbital period. The spectrum matches that of an A-type main-sequence star with a stellar classification of A5 V. The two stars have similar masses and spectra. A star at a projected separation of 1,700 AU has been identified as a possible white dwarf. It is at the same distance as Pi Cassiopeiae and shares a common proper motion. The age of the white dwarf is calculated to be about 500 million years.

Pi Cassiopeiae has been given the spectral class of kA3hF1mA5, indicating an Am star, but this is now considered doubtful.