Beta Camelopardalis
Star in the constellation Camelopardalis
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Beta Camelopardalis is the brightest star in the northern constellation of Camelopardalis. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinised from β Camelopardalis, and abbreviated Beta Cam or β Cam. This star is bright enough to be faintly visible to the naked eye, having an apparent visual magnitude of 4.02.[2] Based upon an annual parallax shift of 3.74 mas as seen from Earth, it is located at a distance of approximately 840 light-years (260 pc) from the Sun. It is moving closer with a radial velocity of −1.90 km/s[4] and is most likely a single[10] star.
 | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Camelopardalis |
| Right ascension | 05h 03m 25.091s[1] |
| Declination | +60° 26′ 32.08″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 4.02[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | G1Ib–IIa[3] |
| U−B color index | +0.62[2] |
| B−V color index | +0.93[2] |
| R−I color index | +0.49[2] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | −1.90[4] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −5.561 mas/yr[1] Dec.: −14.400 mas/yr[1] |
| Parallax (π) | 3.8800±0.1635 mas[1] |
| Distance | 840 ± 40 ly (260 ± 10 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | −3.1[5] |
| Details | |
| Mass | 6.5[3] M☉ |
| Radius | 58±13[6] R☉ |
| Luminosity | 1,592[7] L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 1.79[3] cgs |
| Temperature | 5,300[3] K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | −0.06[8] dex |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 11.7[9] km/s |
| Age | 53[3] Myr |
| Other designations | |
| β Cam, 10 Camelopardalis, 10 Cam, BD+60°856, FK5 182, GC 6136, HD 31910, HIP 23522, HR 1603, SAO 13351, ADS 3615 A, WDS J05034+6027 | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
| Data sources: | |
| Hipparcos Catalogue, CCDM (2002), Bright Star Catalogue (5th rev. ed.) | |
This is a yellow-hued G-type supergiant/bright giant with a stellar classification of G1 Ib–IIa.[3] It is an estimated 60 million years old and is spinning with a projected rotational velocity of 11.7 km/s.[9] This is an unusually high rate of rotation for an evolved star of this type. One possible explanation is that it may have engulfed a nearby giant planet, such as a hot Jupiter.[11]
Beta Camelopardalis has 6.5 times the mass of the Sun[3] and has expanded to around 58 the Sun's radius.[6] The star is radiating 1,592 times the Sun's luminosity from its enlarged photosphere[7] at an effective temperature of 5,300 K.[3] It is a source of X-ray emission.[12]
β Cam has two visual[10] companions: a 7th-magnitude A5-class star at an angular separation of 84 arcseconds; and a 12th-magnitude star at 15 arcseconds.[13]