Gamma1 Fornacis
Star in the constellation Fornax
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Gamma1 Fornacis, which is Latinized from γ1 Fornacis, is a star in the constellation Fornax, positioned less than a degree south of the border with Eridanus.[6] The star has a golden hue and can be a challenge to view with the naked eye even in good seeing conditions, having an apparent visual magnitude of 6.15.[2] It is located at a distance of approximately 367 light years from the Sun based on parallax,[1] but is drifting closer with a radial velocity of −7 km/s.[4] The star has an absolute magnitude of +0.5.[4]
 | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS) | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Fornax |
| Right ascension | 02h 49m 50.96219s[1] |
| Declination | −24° 33′ 37.1290″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 6.154[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | G9 III[3] |
| B−V color index | 1.081[2] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | −6.58±0.64[4] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −51.603[1] mas/yr Dec.: −127.797[1] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 8.8835±0.0576 mas[1] |
| Distance | 367 ± 2 ly (112.6 ± 0.7 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | +0.52±0.21[4] |
| Details | |
| Mass | 1.65[2] M☉ |
| Radius | 10.44+0.73 −0.49[1] R☉ |
| Luminosity | 50.814±0.439[1] L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 2.60[4] cgs |
| Temperature | 4,657±56[2] K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | −0.02[4] dex |
| Age | 3.36[2] Gyr |
| Other designations | |
| γ1 For, CD−25°1120, GC 3404, HD 17713, HIP 13197, HR 844, SAO 168081, WDS J02498-2434A[5] | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
The stellar classification of γ1 Fornacis is G9 III,[3] which indicates this is an aging giant star[4] that has exhausted the supply of hydrogen at its core, then cooled and expanded away from the main sequence. It is an estimated 3.4[2] billion years old with a metallicity that is close to solar, indicating the abundances of heavy elements are similar to those in the Sun. It has 1.65[2] times the mass of the Sun and has expanded to ten[1] times the Sun's radius. The star is radiating 51[1] times the Sun's luminosity from its enlarged photosphere at an effective temperature of 4,657 K.[2]
γ1 Fornacis has three visual companions listed in the Washington Double Star Catalog. These are faint 11th - 13th magnitude stars at 11' - 56' distance from γ1.[7] Gamma2 Fornacis is a 5th magnitude star located four degrees to the south.[6]