Epsilon Serpentis

ε Serpentis
Location of ε Serpentis (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation Serpens
Right ascension 15h 50m 48.96622s
Declination +04° 28 39.8311
Apparent magnitude (V) +3.69
Characteristics
Spectral type kA2hA5mA7 V
U−B color index +0.12
B−V color index +0.14
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−9.4±0.6 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: +128.19 mas/yr
Dec.: +62.16 mas/yr
Parallax (π)46.30±0.19 mas
Distance70.4 ± 0.3 ly
(21.60 ± 0.09 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+2.04
Details
Mass1.820±0.026 M
Radius1.783±0.040 R
Luminosity12.134±0.296 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.346 cgs
Temperature7,928±88 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]+0.38 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)33.1 km/s
Age500±200 Myr
Other designations
ε Ser, 37 Serpentis, BD+04°3069, HD 141795, HIP 77622, HR 5892, SAO 121218
Database references
SIMBADdata

Epsilon Serpentis, Latinized from ε Serpentis, is a single, white-hued star in the constellation Serpens, in its head (Serpens Caput). It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of +3.69. Based upon an annual parallax shift of 46.30 mas as seen from Earth, it is located 70 light years from the Sun. It is moving closer to the Sun with a radial velocity of −9 km/s.

This is an Am star on the main-sequence with a stellar classification of kA2hA5mA7 V. This notation indicates the spectrum displays the calcium K-line of an A2 star, the hydrogen lines of an A5 star, and the metal lines of an A7 star. It has been examined for the presence of a magnetic field, but the detected level was not statistically significant.

Epsilon Serpentis has an estimated 1.82 times the mass of the Sun and 1.78 times the Sun's radius. The star is radiating 12 times the Sun's luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of around 7,928 K. It is a candidate for an infrared excess at a wavelength of 25 μm, suggesting a circumstellar disk of dust with a temperature of 250±70 K may be orbiting roughly 4.2 AU from the host star. The star is around half a billion years old and is spinning with a projected rotational velocity of 33.1 km/s.