2 Aurigae is a possible binary star system in the northern constellation of Auriga. This object is visible to the naked eye as a faint, orange-hued star with an apparent visual magnitude of +4.79.[2] It forms an attractive four-star asterism when viewed in a low power eyepiece, together with the nearby HIP 22647 and another very loose visual pair, HIP 22776 and HIP 22744, all above magnitude 8. 2 Aurigae is moving closer to the Earth with a heliocentric radial velocity of −17 km/s.[4]
Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS) | |
---|---|
Constellation | Auriga |
Right ascension | 04h 52m 37.98097s[1] |
Declination | +36° 42′ 11.4789″[1] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | +4.79[2] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | K3- III Ba0.4[3] |
B−V color index | 1.414±0.003[4] |
Astrometry | |
Radial velocity (Rv) | −17.24±0.08[4] km/s |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: −25.731[1] mas/yr Dec.: −3.867[1] mas/yr |
Parallax (π) | 6.3340 ± 0.2695 mas[1] |
Distance | 510 ± 20 ly (158 ± 7 pc) |
Absolute magnitude (MV) | –1.84[2] |
Details | |
Mass | 2.86[5] M☉ |
Radius | 48.14+0.83 −1.79[1] R☉ |
Luminosity | 599±29[1] L☉ |
Surface gravity (log g) | 1.79[6] cgs |
Temperature | 4,115+79 −35[1] K |
Metallicity [Fe/H] | −0.24±0.03[4] dex |
Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 2.3[6] km/s |
Age | 1.80[5] Gyr |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
The visible component is an aging giant star with a stellar classification of K3- III Ba0.4.[3] The suffix notation indicates this is a mild barium star, which means the stellar atmosphere is enriched with s-process elements. It is either a member of a close binary system and has previously acquired these elements from a (now) white dwarf companion or else it is on the asymptotic giant branch and is generating the elements itself.[8] 2 Aurigae is 1.80[5] billion years old with 2.86[5] times the mass of the Sun and has expanded to 48[1] times the Sun's radius. It is radiating 599[1] times the Sun's luminosity from its enlarged photosphere at an effective temperature of 4,115 K.[1]