Xi Pavonis
ξ Pavonis, Latinised as Xi Pavonis, is a triple star system in the southern constellation of Pavo. It is visible to the naked eye as a faint star with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 4.35 The system is located approximately 440 light-years from the Sun based on parallax, and it is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +12 km/s.
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Pavo |
| Right ascension | 18h 23m 13.64610s |
| Declination | −61° 29′ 37.9364″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 4.35 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | K4III |
| U−B color index | +1.55 |
| B−V color index | +1.46 |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +12.2±0.9 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −5.985 mas/yr Dec.: −0.538 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 7.3600 ± 0.3753 mas |
| Distance | 440 ± 20 ly (136 ± 7 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | −1.16 |
| Orbit | |
| Period (P) | 2,214 d |
| Eccentricity (e) | 0.26 |
| Periastron epoch (T) | 2,418,076.2 JD |
| Argument of periastron (ω) (secondary) | 187.2° |
| Semi-amplitude (K1) (primary) | 17.9 km/s |
| Details | |
| Radius | 54.82+0.32 −3.92 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 729±42 L☉ |
| Temperature | 4,051+153 −117 K |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
This system forms the double star GLE 2, whose companion's magnitude is 8.6 with a 3.3″ angular separation, which was discovered by Australian amateur astronomer Walter Gale in 1894. The primary component is itself a single-lined spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of 6.06 years and an eccentricity of 0.26. The visible member of this inner pair is an aging giant star with a stellar classification of K4III.