Avior (Epsilon Carinae)

Artistic rendering of Avior binary system (Epsilon Carinae)
Image source: Wikipedia

The third brightest star in the constellation Carina, a spectroscopic binary consisting of a main sequence B star and a giant K star, separated by just 0.02". There is some evidence that the components eclipse each other, producing a slight drop in brightness every 2.2 years; if so, this suggests a separation distance of about 4 AU – less than the distance of Jupiter from the Sun, but too far apart for mass transfer to take place.

visual magnitude	1.95 (combined); (~2.4/~3.1)
absolute magnitude	-4.58
spectral type	K3III + B2V
distance	630 ± 60 light-years (190 ± 20 pc)
mass	4.6/16 M_sun
luminosity	6,000/~11,000 L_sun
position	R.A. 08h 22m 30.8s, Dec. -59° 30' 35"
other designations	HR 3307, CD-59°1032, HD 71129, SAO 235932, FK5 315, HIP 410372, GC 11463

Related category

• NOTABLE STARS

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