Pi Chamaeleontis

π Chamaeleontis
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Chamaeleon
Right ascension 11h 37m 15.63631s
Declination −75° 53 47.5626
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.64
Characteristics
Spectral type A9 IV or F1 III
U−B color index −0.01
B−V color index +0.35
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−9.8±3.7 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −127.94 mas/yr
Dec.: −1.82 mas/yr
Parallax (π)24.09±0.33 mas
Distance135 ± 2 ly
(41.5 ± 0.6 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)2.56
Orbit
Period (P)223.1845±1.9460 d
Semi-major axis (a)7.86±0.83 mas
Eccentricity (e)0.3244±0.1375
Inclination (i)104.88±5.52°
Details
Mass1.52 M
Radius2.2 R
Luminosity8 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.08 cgs
Temperature6,853±80 K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.28 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)50 km/s
Age1.8±0.1 Gyr
Other designations
π Cha, CPD−75°744, FK5 438, HD 101132, HIP 56675, HR 4479, SAO 256857
Database references
SIMBADdata

Pi Chamaeleontis, its name Latinized from π Chamaeleontis, is a binary star system located in the southern circumpolar constellation of Chamaeleon. It is dimly visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 5.64. Parallax measurements by Hipparcos put the system approximately 135 light-years (41.5 parsecs) away. It is drifting closer with a radial velocity of −10 km/s.

The Hipparcos satellite mission derived a 223 d orbit on the basis of its motion caused by an unseen companion. The visible component is an A-type subgiant or F-type giant star with an effective temperature of about 6,900 K. It has an absolute magnitude of 2.56, a mass of 1.52 M, and a radius of 2.2 M. It is roughly 1.8 billion years old.