78 Pegasi

78 Pegasi
Location of 78 Pegasi (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Pegasus
Right ascension 23h 43m 59.48560s
Declination 29° 21 41.2342
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.93
(5.07 / 8.10)
Characteristics
Spectral type K0III
U−B color index +0.63
B−V color index +0.96
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−8.33 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +71.10 mas/yr
Dec.: -40.58 mas/yr
Parallax (π)14.54±0.56 mas
Distance224 ± 9 ly
(69 ± 3 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)0.75
Orbit
Period (P)630.15 yr
Semi-major axis (a)1.614″
Eccentricity (e)0.112
Inclination (i)60.64°
Longitude of the node (Ω)172.55°
Periastron epoch (T)B 2247.71
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
241.27°
Details
78 Peg A
Mass1.50 M
Radius10 R
Luminosity57.35 L
Surface gravity (log g)2.62 cgs
Temperature4,898 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]+0.01 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)1.1 km/s
Other designations
78 Peg, BD+28°4627, GC 32954, HD 222842, HIP 117073, HR 8997, SAO 91457, CCDM J23440+2922AB, WDS J23440+2922AB
Database references
SIMBADdata

78 Pegasi is a binary star system in the northern constellation of Pegasus. It is visible to the naked eye as a faint, orange-hued point of light with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.93. The system is located approximately 224 light years from the Sun based on parallax, but is drifting closer with a radial velocity of −8 km/s. The double-star nature of this system was discovered by A. G. Clark in 1862. The components of this system orbit each other over a 630-year period with an eccentricity of 0.11.

The primary member, designated component A, is a magnitude 5.07 giant star with a stellar classification of K0III, having exhausted the supply of hydrogen at its core and expanded to 10 times the Sun's radius. It is a red clump giant, which indicates it is on the horizontal branch and is generating energy through core helium fusion. It has 1.5 times the mass of the Sun and is radiating 57 times the Sun's luminosity from its enlarged photosphere at an effective temperature of 4,898 K. The secondary companion, component B, is magnitude 8.10.