GX Velorum is a solitary[12] variable star[3] in the southern constellation of Vela. It is visible to the naked eye as a faint, blue-white hued star with an apparent visual magnitude that fluctuates around 4.99.[2] Based upon parallax measurements, it is located approximately 4,200 light years distant from the Sun, and is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +28 km/s.[6] It may be a member of the Vela OB1 association of co-moving stars.[7]
Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
---|---|
Constellation | Vela |
Right ascension | 09h 11m 04.39802s[1] |
Declination | −44° 52′ 04.4411″[1] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | +4.99[2] (4.97 to 5.04)[3] |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | B5 Ia[4] |
U−B color index | −0.57[5] |
B−V color index | +0.22[5] |
Variable type | α Cyg?[3] |
Astrometry | |
Radial velocity (Rv) | +28.2±0.8[6] km/s |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: −5.608[1] mas/yr Dec.: +3.843[1] mas/yr |
Parallax (π) | 0.7696 ± 0.1585 mas[1] |
Distance | approx. 4,200 ly (approx. 1,300 pc) |
Absolute magnitude (MV) | −7.20[7] |
Details[8] | |
Mass | 35 M☉ |
Radius | 61±7[9] R☉ |
Luminosity | 214,000[9] L☉ |
Surface gravity (log g) | 2.12±0.05[9] cgs |
Temperature | 15,000±150[9] K |
Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 39 km/s |
Age | 8.3[10] Myr |
Other designations | |
Database references | |
SIMBAD | data |
This object is a massive blue supergiant with a stellar classification of B5 Ia.[4] It is suspected to be an Alpha Cygni-type pulsating variable and ranges in brightness from 4.97 down to 5.04 magnitude.[3] It is losing mass at the rate of (0.40±0.02)×10−6 M☉ yr−1,[9] or one solar mass every 2.5 million years. The star is 8.3[10] million years old with 35 times the mass of the Sun.[8] It has expanded to around 61[9] times the Sun's radius and is radiating 214,000[9] times the luminosity of the Sun from its enlarged photosphere at an effective temperature of 15,000 K.[9]