Theta Chamaeleontis

θ Chamaeleontis
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Chamaeleon
Right ascension 08h 20m 38.54055s
Declination −77° 29 04.1173
Apparent magnitude (V) 4.34
Characteristics
Spectral type K2 IIIb CN0.5
U−B color index +1.19
B−V color index +1.16
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)+21.70±0.7 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −129.05 mas/yr
Dec.: +40.89 mas/yr
Parallax (π)21.00±0.14 mas
Distance155 ± 1 ly
(47.6 ± 0.3 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)+0.97±0.10
Details
Mass0.94±0.27 M
Radius11.5 R
Luminosity60 L
Surface gravity (log g)2.29±0.29 cgs
Temperature4,570 K
Other designations
θ Cha, CPD−77°383, FK5 318, HD 71701, HIP 40888, HR 3340, SAO 256503
Database references
SIMBADdata

Theta Chamaeleontis, Latinized from θ Cha, is a single, orange-hued star located in the southern constellation of Chamaeleon. It is a dim star but visible to the naked eye with an apparent magnitude of 4.34. Parallax measurements by the Hipparcos spacecraft put the system at 155 light-years, or 47.6 parsecs away. It is moving away from the Sun with a radial velocity of +22 km/s.

Theta Chamaeleontis is an evolved K-type giant star with a stellar classification of K2 IIIb CN0.5, where the suffix notation indicates the outer atmosphere has a mild overabundance of cyanogen. It has 0.94 times the mass of the Sun, and has expanded to 11.5 times as wide. The star is radiating 60 times the Sun's luminosity from its enlarged photosphere at an effective temperature of 4,570 K.

It has a visual companion, Theta Chamaeleontis B. This is a magnitude 12.44 star at an angular separation of 21.1 arcseconds from component A along a position angle of 237°, as of 2000.