Psi Velorum
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS) | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Vela |
| Right ascension | 09h 30m 41.99958s |
| Declination | −40° 28′ 00.2616″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +3.58 (3.91 + 5.12) |
| Characteristics | |
| Evolutionary stage | Main sequence or subgiant |
| Spectral type | F0 IV + F3 IV |
| U−B color index | +0.00 |
| B−V color index | +0.36 |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +8.8±1.8 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −147.98 mas/yr Dec.: +61.35 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 53.15±0.37 mas |
| Distance | 61.4 ± 0.4 ly (18.8 ± 0.1 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | 2.56 |
| Orbit | |
| Period (P) | 33.95 yr |
| Semi-major axis (a) | 0.862″ |
| Eccentricity (e) | 0.433 |
| Inclination (i) | 58.0° |
| Longitude of the node (Ω) | 291.0° |
| Periastron epoch (T) | 1969.68 |
| Argument of periastron (ω) (secondary) | 44.3° |
| Details | |
| ψ Vel A | |
| Mass | 1.46 M☉ |
| Radius | 1.46 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 4.21 L☉ |
| Temperature | 6,837 K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.0±0.2 dex |
| ψ Vel B | |
| Mass | 1.34 M☉ |
| Radius | 1.54 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 3.05 L☉ |
| Temperature | 6,148 K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.0±0.2 dex |
| Other designations | |
| ψ Vel, CD−39°5580, GJ 351, HD 82434, HIP 46651, HR 3786, SAO 221234, WDS J09307-4028AB | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | ψ Vel |
| ψ Vel A | |
| ψ Vel B | |
| ARICNS | ψ Vel A |
| ψ Vel B | |
Psi Velorum, Latinized from ψ Velorum, is a binary star system in the southern constellation of Vela. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 53.15 mas as seen from Earth, it is located 61.4 light years from the Sun. It is visible to the naked eye with a combined apparent visual magnitude of +3.58. The motion of this system through space makes it a candidate member of the Castor stellar kinematic group.
The two components of this system orbit their common barycenter with a period of 33.95 years and an eccentricity of 0.433. The semimajor axis of their orbit has an angular size of 0.862 arc seconds. Psi Velorum A and Psi Velorum B have apparent magnitudes of +3.91 and +5.12 and spectral types F0 IV and F3 IV, suggesting they are F-type subgiants. Analysis of the stars' properties suggest that they are main sequence stars rather than subgiants, and spectral types of F3V + F have also been published. The secondary has been reported to be variable between magnitude 4.5 and 5.1.