Theta2 Crucis

θ2 Crucis

A light curve for Theta2 Crucis, plotted from TESS data
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Crux
Right ascension 12h 04m 19.22008s
Declination −63° 09 56.5167
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.70 - 4.74
Characteristics
Spectral type B3 V
U−B color index −0.61
B−V color index −0.08
Variable type β Cep
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+16.3 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −18.467 mas/yr
Dec.: +0.467 mas/yr
Parallax (π)4.7314±0.1276 mas
Distance690 ± 20 ly
(211 ± 6 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−2.35
Orbit
Period (P)3.428 d
Eccentricity (e)0.00
Periastron epoch (T)2419604.367 JD
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
51.3 km/s
Details
Mass5.9 M
Radius6.9 R
Luminosity1,935 L
Surface gravity (log g)3.55 cgs
Temperature15,361 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]+0.20 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)23 km/s
Age18.5 Myr
Other designations
θ2 Cru, CD−62°610, HD 104841, HIP 58867, HR 4603, SAO 251717
Database references
SIMBADdata

Theta2 Crucis, Latinized from θ2 Crucis, is a spectroscopic binary star in the constellation Crux. This pair of stars complete an orbit every 3.4280 days and they have a low orbital eccentricity that is close to 0.0. Theta2 Crucis is located at about 690 light-years from the Sun.

Since a member of the system is a β Cephei-type variable star, the magnitude is not fixed but varies slightly between +4.70 and +4.74. The period of this variability is 0.0889 days. The system is categorized as is a blue-white B-type main sequence star with a stellar classification of B3 V, although it has also been classified as a subgiant. Evolutionary models show it at a late stage of its main sequence life.