Psi7 Aurigae

Psi7 Aurigae
Location of ψ7 Aurigae (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Auriga
Right ascension 06h 50m 45.943s
Declination +41° 46 52.43
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.02
Characteristics
Spectral type K3 III
U−B color index +1.35
B−V color index +1.27
R−I color index 0.46
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+59.53±0.25 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −25.542 mas/yr
Dec.: −137.253 mas/yr
Parallax (π)9.6073±0.1274 mas
Distance339 ± 5 ly
(104 ± 1 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−0.33
Details
Mass1.72+1.26
0.74
 M
Radius19.680 R
Luminosity162+12
11
 L
Surface gravity (log g)2.35 cgs
Temperature4,340±90 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]0.00 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)10 km/s
Age700±200 Myr
Other designations
ψ7 Aur, 58 Aurigae, BD+41 1536, FK5 2527, GC 8931, HD 49520, HIP 32844, HR 2516, SAO 41380, PPM 49381, WDS J06508+4147A
Database references
SIMBADdata

Psi7 Aurigae, is a star in the northern constellation of Auriga. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from ψ7 Aurigae, and abbreviated Psi7 Aur or ψ7 Aur. This is a dim, naked eye star with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.02. Based upon parallax measurements, it is approximately 339 light-years (104 parsecs) distant from Earth. It is receding from the Sun with a radial velocity of +60 km/s. Psi7 Aur is a probable member of the Hercules stream of co-moving stars.

ψ7 Aur is an evolved giant star with a stellar classification of K3 III. With 1.7 times the mass of the Sun, at an age of about 700 million it has expanded to almost 20 times the Sun's radius. The outer envelope has an effective temperature of 4,340, giving it an orange colour and a classification as a K-type star. Although cooler than the sun, its larger size means that it is more luminous, emitting in total 162 times as much electromagnetic radiation.

It was also known to be part of a much bigger constellation named Telescopium Herschelii before it was unrecognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).