74 Cygni

74 Cygni
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Cygnus
Right ascension 21h 36m 56.97051s
Declination +40° 25 48.5818
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.04
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage main sequence
Spectral type A3 Vn
B−V color index 0.198±0.003
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)5.3±2.9 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +2.270 mas/yr
Dec.: +18.399 mas/yr
Parallax (π)13.0909±0.2893 mas
Distance249 ± 6 ly
(76 ± 2 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)0.95
Orbit
Period (P)574.632±9.4158 d
Semi-major axis (a)8.56±0.91 mas
Eccentricity (e)0.5349±0.1066
Inclination (i)102.1±4.39°
Longitude of the node (Ω)18.92°
Periastron epoch (T)8579.5387±18.6175
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
306.56±14.01°
Details
74 Cyg A
Mass1.83±0.29 M
Radius3.68±0.13 R
Luminosity44±2 L
Surface gravity (log g)3.57±0.08 cgs
Temperature7,757±120 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)201 km/s
Age606 Myr
Other designations
74 Cyg, BD+39°4612, FK5 811, HD 205835, HIP 106711, HR 8266, SAO 51101, WDS J21369+4025
Database references
SIMBADdata

74 Cygni is a visual binary star system in the northern constellation Cygnus, located around 249 light years distant from the Sun. It is visible to the naked eye as a faint, white-hued star with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 5.04. The pair orbit each other with a period of 1.57 years and an eccentricity of 0.5. The system is a source of X-ray emission, which is most likely coming from the secondary component.

The primary component is an A-type main-sequence star with a stellar classification of A3 Vn; a star that is fusing its core hydrogen. The 'n' suffix indicates "nebulous" absorption lines due to rapid rotation, with the star having a projected rotational velocity of 201 km/s. The high rate of spin is giving the star an oblate shape with an equatorial bulge that is 8% larger than the polar radius. The star has 1.83 times the mass of the Sun, 3.68 times the Sun's radius, and is radiating 44 times the Sun's luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of about 7,757 K.