Beta Canum Venaticorum

β Canum Venaticorum
Location of β Canum Venaticorum (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Canes Venatici
Right ascension 12h 33m 44.54425s
Declination +41° 21 26.9214
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.25
Characteristics
Spectral type G0 V
U−B color index 0.04
B−V color index 0.58
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+6.15±0.12 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −704.702 mas/yr
Dec.: +292.155 mas/yr
Parallax (π)118.0266±0.1530 mas
Distance27.63 ± 0.04 ly
(8.47 ± 0.01 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)4.64
Details
Mass0.97±0.04 M
Radius1.03±0.03 R
Luminosity1.254±0.009 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.41±0.04 cgs
Temperature6013±91 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.2±0.01 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)2.9±0.4 km/s
Age3.4 to 7.1 Gyr
Other designations
Chara, β CVn, 8 CVn, BD+42 2321, FK5 470, GJ 475, HD 109358, HIP 61317, HR 4785, SAO 44230, NGC 4530
Database references
SIMBADdata
ARICNSdata

Beta Canum Venaticorum (β Canum Venaticorum, abbreviated Beta CVn, β CVn), also named Chara /ˈkɛərə/, is the second-brightest star in the northern constellation of Canes Venatici. It is a nearby solar-type star, about 27.6 light-years (8.5 parsecs) distant based on its parallax. The star is faintly visible to the naked eye, at an apparent magnitude of +4.25. Along with the brighter star Cor Caroli, the pair form the "southern dog" in this constellation that represents hunting dogs.