HD 88981

M Carinae
Location of M Carinae (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Carina
Right ascension 10h 13m 30.6318s
Declination −66° 22 22.1166
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.154±0.009
Characteristics
Spectral type kA8 mF4 III
U−B color index +0.18
B−V color index +0.22
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−15.2 ± 2 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −34.330 mas/yr
Dec.: +11.333 mas/yr
Parallax (π)10.5045±0.1031 mas
Distance310 ± 3 ly
(95.2 ± 0.9 pc)
Details
Mass2.14±0.40 M
Radius4.45+0.35
−0.16
 R
Luminosity62.9±0.7 L
Surface gravity (log g)3.52±0.39 cgs
Temperature7,706+142
−289
 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)60 km/s
Other designations
M Carinae, CPD−65°1273, GC 14066, HD 88981, HIP 50083, HR 4025, SAO 250880, GSC 08955-01326
Database references
SIMBADdata

M Carinae (HD 88981) is a solitary star in the constellation Carina. It has an apparent magnitude of +5.154, making it faintly visible to the naked eye under ideal and is located approximately 310 light-years from Earth. With a heliocentric radial velocity of −15.2 km/s M Carinae is drifting closer to the Solar System.

M Car has a stellar classification of kA8 mF4 III which indicates that it has the calcium K-line and surface temperature of an A8 star and the metallic lines of an evolved F-type giant that has just exhausted hydrogen fusion at its core. At present M Car has 2.14 times the mass of the Sun but has mildly expanded to 4.45 times its girth. It shines at a luminosity almost 63 times greater than the Sun from its bloated photosphere at an effective temperature of 7,706 K, which gives it the white glow of an A-type star. M Car spins moderately at a projected rotational velocity of 60 km/s, slightly faster than most Am stars.