Epsilon Mensae

ε Mensae
Location of ε Mensae (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Mensa
Right ascension 07h 25m 38.0987s
Declination −79° 05 39.088
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.52±0.01
Characteristics
Spectral type K2/3 III
U−B color index +1.42
B−V color index +1.28
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)10.5±2.9 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −29.197 mas/yr
Dec.: +5.181 mas/yr
Parallax (π)7.1874±0.0449 mas
Distance454 ± 3 ly
(139.1 ± 0.9 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−0.24
Details
Mass1.15 M
Radius21.94 R
Luminosity170 L
Surface gravity (log g)1.74 cgs
Temperature4,657±122 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.31 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)1.8±1.4 km/s
Age233 Myr
Other designations
ε Men, 43 G. Mensae, CPD−78°265, FK5 2583, GC 10055, HD 60816, HIP 36039, HR 2919, SAO 256415
Database references
SIMBADdata

Epsilon Mensae, Latinized to ε Mensae, is a single star in the southern circumpolar constellation Mensa. It has an apparent magnitude of 5.52, making it faintly visible to the naked eye under ideal conditions. The object has a heliocentric radial velocity of 10.5 km/s, meaning it is receding from the Solar System, and is estimated to be 454 light years away.

Epsilon Mensae has a stellar classification of K2/3 III — intermediate between a K2 and K3 giant star. It has 115% the mass of the Sun and an enlarged radius of 21.9 R. It shines at 170 times the luminosity of the Sun from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 4,657 K, giving it an orange glow. Epsilon Mensae has a metallicity 49% that of the Sun and is believed to be a member of the young disk population. It spins leisurely with a projected rotational velocity of about 1.8 km/s.