Rho2 Arae

Rho2 Arae
The location of ρ2 Arae (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Ara
Right ascension 16h 58m 17.940s
Declination −50° 38 28.27
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.54
Characteristics
Spectral type B9 IV or B9 V
B−V color index +0.02
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−44.0±4.3 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −9.758 mas/yr
Dec.: −38.302 mas/yr
Parallax (π)5.2105±0.0656 mas
Distance626 ± 8 ly
(192 ± 2 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−0.47
Details
Mass3.42±0.10 M
Radius5.104 R
Luminosity238+34
30
 L
Temperature10,520±49 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)302 km/s
Other designations
ρ2 Ara, CD50°10924, FK5 1444, GC 22841, HD 152824, HIP 83057, HR 6289, SAO 244313, PPM 345560
Database references
SIMBADdata

Rho2 Arae is a star in the southern constellation of Ara. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from ρ2 Arae, and abbreviated Rho2 Ara or ρ2 Ara. It received this designation when the star was catalogued by Bode in his Uranographia. This is a rather dim naked eye star with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.54. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 6.28 mas, it is around 628 light-years (193 pc) distant from the Sun, give or take a 8-light-year margin of error. The star is drifting closer to the Sun with a radial velocity of −44 km/s.

The spectrum of this star matches a stellar classification of B9 IV or B9 V. The IV luminosity class suggests the star is in the subgiant stage, while a V class means it is a main-sequence star like the Sun. In the latter case, it is close to entering the subgiant stage at an estimated 93% of the way through its lifespan on the main sequence.

Rho2 Arae has more than three times the mass of the Sun and 5.1 times the Sun's radius. It is radiating 238 times the Sun's luminosity from the star's photosphere at an effective temperature of 10,520 K, giving it the blue-white hue of a B-type star. The star is spinning rapidly with a projected rotational velocity of 302 km/s.