Gamma Leporis
Star in the constellation Lepus
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Gamma Leporis, Latinized from γ Leporis, is a star in the southern half of the constellation Lepus, southeast of Beta Leporis and southwest of Delta Leporis. With an apparent visual magnitude of 3.587,[2] it is bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 112.3 mas as seen from Earth, its distance can be calculated as 29.04 light-years. It has a common proper motion companion, AK Leporis (or Gamma Leporis B), which is a variable star of the BY Draconis type and has an average brightness of magnitude 6.28.[10] The two are 95″ apart can be well seen in binoculars.[9] Gamma Leporis is a member of the Ursa Major Moving Group.[11]
 | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Lepus |
| Right ascension | 05h 44m 27.79062s[1] |
| Declination | −22° 26′ 54.1878″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 3.587[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Evolutionary stage | main sequence[1] |
| Spectral type | F6 V[3] |
| U−B color index | −0.007[2] |
| B−V color index | +0.494[2] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | −8.99±0.15[1] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −291.757 mas/yr[1] Dec.: −368.521 mas/yr[1] |
| Parallax (π) | 112.2960±0.1452 mas[1] |
| Distance | 29.04 ± 0.04 ly (8.91 ± 0.01 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | 3.84[4] |
| Details | |
| Mass | 1.17+0.10 −0.06[5] M☉ |
| Radius | 1.30±0.03[5] R☉ |
| Luminosity (bolometric) | 2.36+0.13 −0.14[5] L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 4.350±0.040[5] cgs |
| Temperature | 6,276+57 −61[5] K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | −0.12[6] dex |
| Rotation | 5.91±0.66[7] days |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 15[8] km/s |
| Age | 1.3[4] Gyr |
| Other designations | |
| γ Lep, 13 Leporis, BD−22°1211, CD−22°2438, FK5 217, GJ 216 A, HD 38393, HIP 27072, HR 1983, SAO 170759[9] | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Gamma Leporis is an F-type main-sequence star with a stellar classification of F6 V.[3] It is larger than the Sun with 1.30 times the radius of the Sun and 1.17 times the Sun's mass.[5] The star is around 1.3 billion years old[4] and is spinning with a rotation period of about six days.[7] Based upon its stellar characteristics and distance from Earth, Gamma Leporis was considered a high-priority target for NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder mission. It has been examined for an infrared excess, but none has been observed.[7]
Van Biesbroeck's star catalog of 1961 lists the red dwarf star VB 1 as a companion of Gamma Leporis,[12] but this is a background star that is not physically associated.[13] It should not be confused with AK Leporis (Gamma Leporis B), which is a true companion star.[14][15]