Theta Pyxidis

Theta Pyxidis
Location of θ Pyxidis (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Pyxis
Right ascension 09h 21m 29.60s
Declination −25° 57 55.5
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.718
Characteristics
Spectral type M0.5 III Ba0.5
U−B color index +1.984
B−V color index +1.651
Variable type semiregular variable
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+20.0±2.8 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −12.24±0.40 mas/yr
Dec.: −9.29±0.37 mas/yr
Parallax (π)6.49±0.45 mas
Distance500 ± 30 ly
(150 ± 10 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−1.22
Details
Radius54 R
Luminosity970 L
Temperature3,825 K
Other designations
θ Pyx, Theta Pyx, CPD−25°4152, FK5 1243, GC 12916, HD 80874, HIP 45902, HR 3718, SAO 177322, PPM 256035
Database references
SIMBADdata

Theta Pyxidis, Latinized from θ Pyxidis, is a red M-type giant in the constellation Pyxis. It is approximately 500 ± 30 light years from Earth. It is of spectral type M1III and semi-regular variable with two measured periods of 13 and 98.3 days, and an average visual magnitude of 4.71, It shines with a luminosity approximately 970 times that of the Sun and has a surface temperature of 3825 K. It has a diameter around 54 times that of the Sun.

Theta Pyxidis is moving through the Galaxy at a speed of 22.8 km/s relative to the Sun. Its projected Galactic orbit carries it between 21,200 and 24,700 light years from the center of the Galaxy. It came closest to the Sun 5.8 million years ago when it had brightened to magnitude 3.12 from a distance of 241 light years.