Tau2 Arietis

τ2
Location of τ2 Arietis (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Aries
Right ascension 03h 22m 45.241s
Declination +20° 44 31.44
Apparent magnitude (V) +5.09
Characteristics
Spectral type K3 III
U−B color index +1.27
B−V color index 1.238
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+2.45±0.24 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −53.633 mas/yr
Dec.: −14.447 mas/yr
Parallax (π)9.7639±0.2442 mas
Distance334 ± 8 ly
(102 ± 3 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+0.17
Details
Mass2.04±0.60 M
Radius19 R
Luminosity120 L
Surface gravity (log g)2.23±0.11 cgs
Temperature4,479±92 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]+0.02 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)3.4 km/s
Age1.6+0.6
0.4
 Gyr
Other designations
τ2 Ari, 63 Arietis, BD+20 551, GC 4026, HD 20893, HIP 15737, HR 1015, SAO 75899, PPM 92448, WDS J03228+2045A
Database references
SIMBADdata

Tau2 Arietis is a binary star system in the northern constellation on Aries. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from τ2 Arietis, and abbreviated Tau2 Ari or τ2 Ari. The combined apparent visual magnitude of this system is +5.09, which is bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. With an annual parallax shift of 9.76 mas, it is located at a distance of approximately 334 light-years (102 parsecs) from Earth, give or take an 8 light-year margin of error. At this distance the brightness of the star is diminished by 0.18 in magnitude because of extinction from interstellar gas and dust. The system is receding from the Sun with a radial velocity of +2.5 km/s.

The primary component is an evolved giant star with a stellar classification of K3 III. It is an estimated 1.6 billion years old and is spinning with a projected rotational velocity of 3.4 km/s. With double the mass of the Sun, it has expanded to 19 times the radius of the Sun. The star is radiating 120 times the Sun's luminosity from its enlarged photosphere at an effective temperature of 4,406 K, giving it the cool orange glow of a K-type star. At an angular separation of 0.53 arcseconds is a magnitude 8.50 companion.