Mu Eridani
Mu Eridani (μ Eridani) is a binary star system in the constellation Eridanus. It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.00. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 0.00625 arcseconds, it is located roughly 520 light years from the Sun.
A light curve for Mu Eridani, adapted from Jerzykiewicz et al. (2013). The red lines show the times of mid-eclipse. | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS) | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Eridanus |
| Right ascension | 04h 45m 30.15038s |
| Declination | −03° 15′ 16.7765″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 4.00 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | B5 IV |
| U−B color index | −0.60 |
| B−V color index | −0.15 |
| Variable type | SPB and Algol |
| Astrometry | |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: +0.25 mas/yr Dec.: −1.97 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 6.25 ± 0.19 mas |
| Distance | 520 ± 20 ly (160 ± 5 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | −2.06±0.07 |
| Orbit | |
| Period (P) | 7.38090 d |
| Eccentricity (e) | 0.344±0.021 |
| Periastron epoch (T) | 2455143.254±0.067 HJD |
| Argument of periastron (ω) (secondary) | 160.5±4.5° |
| Semi-amplitude (K1) (primary) | 0.344±0.021 km/s |
| Details | |
| μ Eri A | |
| Mass | 6.2±0.2 M☉ |
| Radius | 6.1 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 1,905 L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 3.5 cgs |
| Temperature | 15,668 K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0 dex |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 130±3 km/s |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
In 1910, this was determined to be a single-lined spectroscopic binary star system. The pair orbit each other with a period of 7.38 days and an eccentricity of 0.344, during which they undergo Algol-like eclipses. The primary is a slowly pulsating B-type star with a stellar classification of B5 IV. It has a relatively high rate of rotation with a projected rotational velocity of 130 km/s, which is at least 30% of the star's break-up velocity. The star has about six times the Sun's mass and radius, and it shines with 1,905 times the solar luminosity from its outer atmosphere at an effective temperature of 15,668 K.