V1400 Centauri
V1400 Centauri (also known as 1SWASP J140747.93−394542.6, J1407 and Mamajek's Object) is a pre-main-sequence star in the constellation Centaurus at a distance of about 451 light-years from Earth. A relatively young star, its age is estimated to be 16 million years, and its mass is about 90% that of the Sun. The star has a maximum apparent magnitude of 12.2 and requires a telescope to be seen. The star's name comes from the SuperWASP (Wide Angle Search for Planets) program and the star's coordinates.
A graph of V1400 Centauri and J1407b to scale, showing the extent of the ring system | |
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 14h 07m 47.92976s |
| Declination | −39° 45′ 42.7671″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 12.2 - ~15.6 |
| Characteristics | |
| Evolutionary stage | pre-main sequence |
| Spectral type | K5 IV(e) Li |
| Variable type | rotational T Tau and eclipsing |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | 5.65±2.92 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −23.108±0.015 mas/yr Dec.: −21.048±0.017 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 7.2351 ± 0.0140 mas |
| Distance | 450.8 ± 0.9 ly (138.2 ± 0.3 pc) |
| Details | |
| Mass | 0.9 M☉ |
| Radius | >0.93±0.02 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 0.34 L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 4.30 cgs |
| Temperature | 4400±100 K |
| Age | 16 Myr |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
In 2007, J1407 was observed to be eclipsed and orbited by at least one major body, 1SWASP J1407b (J1407b), thought to be either a large gas giant planet or a brown dwarf, with an immense ring system. Subsequent observations have not successfully detected J1407b, suggesting that it is on a highly eccentric orbit around the star.
By 2021, it was discovered the parent star is strongly variable, with a 5.4-year long magnetic activity cycle, and no evidence was detected of additional planets or a repeat of the deep eclipses attributed to a transiting ring system.