Lambda Aurigae

λ Aurigae
Location of λ Aurigae (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Auriga
Right ascension 05h 19m 08.475s
Declination +40° 05 56.59
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.71
Characteristics
Spectral type G1 V or G1.5 IV-V Fe-1
U−B color index +0.13
B−V color index +0.62
R−I color index 0.32
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+66.53±0.14 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +520.569 mas/yr
Dec.: −664.488 mas/yr
Parallax (π)79.6021±0.1005 mas
Distance40.97 ± 0.05 ly
(12.56 ± 0.02 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)4.20
Details
Mass1.081+0.054
−0.029
 M
Radius1.331±0.021 R
Luminosity1.732±0.022 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.02 cgs
Temperature5,890±4.3 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]+0.12 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)2 km/s
Age4, 5.0–7.9 Gyr
Other designations
λ Aur, 15 Aurigae, BD+39°1248, FK5 1145, GC 6494, GJ 197, HD 34411, HIP 24813, HR 1729, SAO 40233, PPM 47977, WDS J05191+4006A, LFT 403, LHS 1753, LTT 11625
Database references
SIMBADdata
ARICNSdata

Lambda Aurigae is a Sun-like star in the northern constellation of Auriga. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from λ Aurigae, and abbreviated Lambda Aur or λ Aur. This star is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.71. Based upon parallax measurements, it is 41 light-years (13 parsecs) distant from the Earth. The star is drifting further away with a high radial velocity of +66.5 km/s, having come to within 24.4 ly (7.5 pc) some 117,300 years ago. It has a high proper motion, traversing the celestial sphere at the rate of 0.844 per year.