Gliese 581

Gliese 581
Gliese 581
Location of Gliese 581 in the constellation Libra

Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Libra
Right ascension 15h 19m 26.82694s
Declination −07° 43 20.1895
Apparent magnitude (V) 10.56 to 10.58
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage Main sequence
Spectral type M3V
B−V color index 1.61
Variable type BY Dra
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−9.75±0.16 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −1221.278(37) mas/yr
Dec.: −97.229(27) mas/yr
Parallax (π)158.7183±0.0301 mas
Distance20.549 ± 0.004 ly
(6.300 ± 0.001 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)11.6
Details
Mass0.295±0.010 M
Radius0.302±0.005 R
Luminosity (bolometric)0.012365(68) L
Luminosity (visual, LV)0.002 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.97±0.11 cgs
Temperature3,500±26 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.08±0.07 dex
Rotation132.5±6.3 d or 148.1±0.9 d
Rotational velocity (v sin i)<2.0 km/s
Age9.5±1.5 Gyr
Other designations
HO Lib, BD−07 4003, GJ 581, HIP 74995, LFT 1195, LHS 394, LPM 564, LTT 6112, NLTT 39886, Wolf 562, TIC 36853511, TYC 5594-1093-1
Database references
SIMBADThe star
e
b
c
d
f (artifact)
g
Exoplanet Archivedata

Gliese 581 (/ˈɡlzə/) is a red dwarf star of spectral type M3V which hosts a planetary system, 20.5 light-years (6.3 parsecs) away from Earth in the constellation Libra. Its estimated mass is about a third of that of the Sun, and it is the 101st closest known star system to the Sun. Gliese 581 is one of the oldest, least active M dwarfs known. Its low stellar activity improves the likelihood of its planets retaining significant atmospheres, and lessens the sterilizing impact of stellar flares.