Zeta Tucanae

Zeta Tucanae
Location of ζ Tucanae (near center).
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Tucana
Right ascension 00h 20m 04.25995s
Declination −64° 52 29.2549
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.23
Characteristics
Spectral type F9.5 V
U−B color index 0.02
B−V color index 0.58
Variable type None
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)8.8 ± 0.02 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: 1,707.42 mas/yr
Dec.: 1,164.30 mas/yr
Parallax (π)116.46±0.16 mas
Distance28.01 ± 0.04 ly
(8.59 ± 0.01 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)4.67
Details
Mass0.985±0.033 M
Radius1.044±0.010 R
Luminosity1.232±0.039 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.394±0.007 cgs
Temperature5,924±130 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.18 dex
Rotation31.1±0.1 days
Rotational velocity (v sin i)3.0 km/s
Age5.3±0.5 Gyr
Other designations
ζ Tuc, FK5 10, GC 401, GJ 17, HD 1581, HIP 1599, HR 77, SAO 248163, LHS 5, LTT 167
Database references
SIMBADdata

Zeta Tucanae, Latinized from ζ Tucanae, is a star in the constellation Tucana. It is a spectral class F9.5 main sequence star with an apparent magnitude of +4.23. Despite having a slightly lower mass, this star is more luminous than the Sun. Based upon parallax measurements by the Hipparcos spacecraft, it is approximately 28.0 light years from Earth. This is one of the least variable stars observed during the Hipparcos mission.

The composition and mass of this star are very similar to the Sun, with a slightly lower mass and an estimated age of three billion years. The solar-like qualities make it a target of interest for investigating the possible existence of a life-bearing planet.

Based upon an excess emission of infrared radiation at 70 micrometres, this system is believed to have a debris disk. The disk is orbiting the star at a minimum radius of 2.3 astronomical units. It is radiating with a maximum temperature of 218 K. As of 2009, no planet has been discovered in orbit around this star.

The components of this star's space velocity are U = −60, V = −4 and W = −38 km/s. These correspond to the velocity toward the Galactic Center, the velocity along the direction of galactic rotation, and the velocity toward the north galactic pole, respectively. It is orbiting through the galaxy at a mean distance of 8.4 kpc from the Galactic Center and with an orbital eccentricity of 0.16.