Theta1 Crucis

θ1 Crucis
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Crux
Right ascension 12h 03m 01.50130s
Declination −63° 18 46.5406
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.30
Characteristics
Spectral type A3(m)A8-A8
U−B color index +0.03
B−V color index +0.28
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−2.4 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −152.35 mas/yr
Dec.: +7.00 mas/yr
Parallax (π)13.88±0.15 mas
Distance235 ± 3 ly
(72.0 ± 0.8 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+1.29
Orbit
Period (P)24.4828 d
Eccentricity (e)0.61
Periastron epoch (T)2419453.3470 JD
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
358.9°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
46.1 km/s
Semi-amplitude (K2)
(secondary)
56.1 km/s
Details
Mass1.57 M
Luminosity81 L
Surface gravity (log g)3.76 cgs
Temperature7341±250 K
Age1.1 Gyr
Other designations
θ1 Cru, CPD−62°2543, HD 104671, HIP 58758, HR 4599, SAO 251705
Database references
SIMBADdata

Theta1 Crucis1 Cru, Theta1 Crucis) is a spectroscopic binary star system in the southern constellation of Crux. It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.30m. The distance to this star, as determined using parallax measurements, is around 235 light years.

The pair orbit each other closely with a period of 24.5 days and an eccentricity of 0.61. The primary component is an Am star, which is a chemically peculiar A-type star that shows anomalous variations in absorption lines of certain elements. It has a stellar classification of A3(m)A8-A8. With a mass 157% times that of the Sun, it radiates 81 times the Sun's luminosity from its outer atmosphere at an effective temperature of 7341 K. Unusually for a fully radiative A-type star, X-ray emissions have been detected, which may instead be coming from the orbiting companion.