Theta Carinae

θ Carinae
Location of θ Carinae (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Carina
Right ascension 10h 42m 57.40197s
Declination −64° 23 40.0208
Apparent magnitude (V) 2.76
Characteristics
Evolutionary stage Blue straggler
Spectral type B0.5 Vp
U−B color index −1.00
B−V color index −0.22
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+24 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −18.36 mas/yr
Dec.: +12.03 mas/yr
Parallax (π)7.16±0.21 mas
Distance460 ± 10 ly
(140 ± 4 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)−3.10
Orbit
Period (P)2.20288±0.00001 d
Eccentricity (e)0.129±0.002
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
81.8±1.7°
Semi-amplitude (K1)
(primary)
18.93±0.05 km/s
Details
θ Car A
Mass14.9±0.4 M
Radius5.1 R
Luminosity14,500±1,000 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.20 cgs
Temperature31,000±1,000 K
Rotational velocity (v sin i)108±3 km/s
Age35 - 46 Myr
Other designations
θ Car, CPD−63°1599, FK5 406, HD 93030, HIP 52419, HR 4199, SAO 251083.
Database references
SIMBADdata

θ Carinae, Latinized as Theta Carinae, is a spectroscopic binary star in the southern constellation of Carina. With an apparent visual magnitude of 2.76, it is the brightest star in the open star cluster IC 2602. It marks the northeastern end of the Diamond Cross asterism. Parallax measurements from the Hipparcos mission place this star at a distance of about 460 light-years (140 parsecs) from Earth.