Zeta Ophiuchi

ζ Ophiuchi
Location of ζ Oph (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Ophiuchus
Right ascension 16h 37m 09.54001s
Declination −10° 34 01.5097
Apparent magnitude (V) 2.56  2.58
Characteristics
Spectral type O9.5 V
U−B color index −0.857
B−V color index +0.032
Variable type γ Cas + β Cep
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−15.0 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +10.465 mas/yr
Dec.: +24.742 mas/yr
Parallax (π)7.4088±0.6596 mas
Distance440 ± 40 ly
(130 ± 10 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−4.2
Details
Mass20.2 M
Radius9.1 (equator)
7.5 (polar) R
Luminosity74,100 L
Surface gravity (log g)3.58 cgs
Temperature30,700 (equatorial)
39,000 (polar) K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)400 km/s
Age3.0±0.3 Myr
Other designations
13 Oph, BD−10°4350, FK5 622, HD 149757, HIP 81377, HR 6175, SAO 160006, 2MASS J16370954-1034014, Gaia DR2 4337352305315545088
Database references
SIMBADdata

Zeta Ophiuchi (ζ Oph, ζ Ophiuchi) is a single star located in the constellation of Ophiuchus. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 2.6, making it the third-brightest star in the constellation. Parallax measurements give an estimated distance of roughly 440 light-years (130 parsecs) from the Earth. It is surrounded by the Sh2-27 nebula, the star's bow shock as it ploughs through dense dust clouds near the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex.

In April 2010, ζ Ophiuchi was occulted by asteroid 824 Anastasia.