38 Leonis Minoris

38 Leonis Minoris
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Leo Minor
Right ascension 10h 39m 07.63244s
Declination +37° 54 36.0035
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.84
Characteristics
Spectral type G0 IV
B−V color index 0.595±0.003
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+30.9±0.3 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −220.50 mas/yr
Dec.: −45.31 mas/yr
Parallax (π)19.11±0.37 mas
Distance171 ± 3 ly
(52 ± 1 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)2.26
Orbit
Period (P)7.7991499±0.0000037 d
Eccentricity (e)0.023±0.034
Periastron epoch (T)20,165.164±1.470 HJD
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
285.56±68.51°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
24.10±0.73 km/s
Details
38 LMi A
Mass1.68 M
Luminosity11.32 L
Surface gravity (log g)3.73 cgs
Temperature6,106 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]+0.32 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)14.5±1.0 km/s
Age2.03±0.14 Gyr
38 LMi B
Mass 0.31 M
Other designations
38 LMi, BD+38° 2166, FK5 2852, HD 92168, HIP 52139, HR 4168, SAO 62178
Database references
SIMBADdata

38 Leonis Minoris is a binary star system in the northern constellation of Leo Minor. It shines with a combined light of apparent magnitude 5.84, which indicates it a dimly visible to the naked eye under good viewing conditions. An annual parallax shift of 19.11 mas provides a distance estimate of around 171 light years. It has a relatively high proper motion, traversing the celestial sphere at a rate of 0.226 arcseconds per year, and is moving away from the Sun with a radial velocity of +31 km/s.

This is a single-lined spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of 7.8 days and a low eccentricity of 0.023 – nearly circular. The visible component has a stellar classification of G0 IV, matching a G-type subgiant star that is exhausting the hydrogen at its core and evolving into a giant. It is about two billion years old with 1.68 times the mass of the Sun and is spinning with a projected rotational velocity of 14.5 km/s. The star has a higher than solar abundance of iron in its spectrum. It is radiating 11 times the Sun's luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 6,106 K.