AG Carinae
| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Carina |
| Right ascension | 10h 56m 11.57814s |
| Declination | −60° 27′ 12.8107″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 6.96 (5.7–9.0) |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | LBV |
| U−B color index | −0.58 |
| B−V color index | +0.61 |
| Variable type | LBV |
| Astrometry | |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −4.808 mas/yr Dec.: +1.955 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 0.1925±0.0165 mas |
| Distance | 17,000 ± 1,000 ly (5,200 ± 400 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | ~−8 (at minimum) |
| Details | |
| Mass | 55 M☉ |
| Radius | 50–552 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 600,000–900,000 L☉ |
| Temperature | 8,000–26,000 K |
| Rotation | 13±2 days |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 220±50 km/s |
| Other designations | |
| CD−59°3430, CPD−59°2860, HD 94910, HIP 53461, SAO 251185, WR 31b, AAVSO 1052–69 | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
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AG Carinae (AG Car) is a star in the constellation of Carina. It is classified as a luminous blue variable (LBV) and is one of the most luminous stars in the Milky Way. The great distance (20,000 light-years) and intervening dust mean that the star is not usually visible to the naked eye; its apparent brightness varies erratically between magnitude 5.7 and 9.0.
In 1914, Harry Edwin Wood announced his discovery that this star, then called CPD−59°2860, is a variable star, based on photographic plates taken in 1911 and 1914. It was given its variable star designation, AG Carinae, in 1921.