Lambda Octantis

Lambda Octantis
Location of λ Octantis (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Octans
Right ascension 21h 50m 54.56355s
Declination −82° 43 08.0450
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.27 (5.64 + 7.25)
Characteristics
Spectral type G8-K0III + kA3hA7VmA8
U−B color index +0.47/+2.20
B−V color index +0.75
Astrometry
A
Radial velocity (Rv)−10.18±0.13 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +69.803 mas/yr
Dec.: −33.013 mas/yr
Parallax (π)8.1897±0.0878 mas
Distance398 ± 4 ly
(122 ± 1 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+0.40
B
Proper motion (μ) RA: +69.025 mas/yr
Dec.: −25.496 mas/yr
Parallax (π)7.9685 ± 0.0570 mas
Distance409 ± 3 ly
(125.5 ± 0.9 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+2.20
Details
A
Radius13.23+0.41
−0.50
 R
Luminosity102.4±1.3 L
Temperature5,048+98
−76
 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)1.8 km/s
Age200 Myr
Other designations
λ Oct, CPD−83°722, GC 30472, HD 206240, HIP 107843, HR 8280, SAO 258914, CCDM J21509-8243, WDS J21509-8243
Database references
SIMBADdata

λ Octantis, Latinized as Lambda Octantis, is a binary star system in the southern circumpolar constellation of Octans. It is visible to the naked eye as a dim point of light with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 5.27. The distance to this system is approximately 398–409 light years, based on parallax, but it is moving closer with a radial velocity of −10 km/s.

The primary, designated component A, is an aging, yellow-hued star with a stellar classification of class G8-K0III and a visual magnitude of 5.64. Having exhausted the supply of hydrogen at its core, it has expanded and cooled off the main sequence, becoming a giant. At present it is about 200 million years old and has 13 times the girth of the Sun. This star is radiating 102 times the luminosity of the Sun from its swollen photosphere at an effective temperature of 5,048 K.

The magnitude 7.25 secondary companion, component B, is an Am star with a class of kA3hA7VmA8. This notation indicates it has the calcium K line of an A3 class star, the hydrogen lines of a cooler A7 main sequence star, and the metal lines of an A8 star. As of 2008, it lies at an angular separation of 3.233 from the primary.