63 Ceti
Star in the constellation of Cetus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
63 Ceti is a star in the constellation of Cetus, located just over a degree south of the celestial equator. With an apparent magnitude of about 5.933±0.010[2] the star is barely visible to the naked eye (see Bortle scale) as a dim, orange-hued point of light. Parallax estimates put it at a distance of about 378 light years (116 parsecs) away from the Earth,[1] and it is drifting further away with a radial velocity of 28.02±0.13 km/s.[1]
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox ICRS | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cetus |
| Right ascension | 02h 11m 35.835s[1] |
| Declination | −01° 49′ 31.537″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 5.933±0.010[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | K0III[3] |
| U−B color index | +0.70[4] |
| B−V color index | +0.97[4] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | 28.02±0.13[1] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −11.171±0.043[1] mas/yr Dec.: −31.922±0.026[1] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 8.6173±0.0396 mas[1] |
| Distance | 378 ± 2 ly (116.0 ± 0.5 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | 0.57[5] |
| Details | |
| Mass | 1.155±0.182[6] M☉ |
| Radius | 11.051±0.135[6] R☉ |
| Luminosity | 52.579±3.407[6] L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 2.37±0.09[6] cgs |
| Temperature | 4676±80[6] K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | −0.13±0.03[6] dex |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 3.175±0.653[7] km/s |
| Age | 990±50[8] Myr |
| Other designations | |
| 63 Cet, BD−02°375, HD 13468, HIP 10234, HR 639, SAO 129739[9] | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
63 Ceti has a spectral type of K0III,[3] implying an aging K-type giant star. These types of stars are generally reddish-colored stars with spectral types from K to M, with radii that are 10 to 100 times larger than the Sun.[10] 63 Ceti fits this description, with a radius about 11.051±0.135 times larger than the Sun, a mass of about 1.155±0.182 times the Sun, and an effective temperature of 4676±80 K.[6] 63 Ceti is a red clump giant, indicating it is currently at the horizontal branch, a stage in stellar evolution, and is generating energy through core helium fusion. It is close to a billion years old[8] and is radiating 52.579±3.407 times the luminosity of the Sun from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 4676±80 K.[6]