ε Centauri (epsilon Centauri)

ε Centauri is a variable and double giant star in the constellation of Centaurus.

ε Centauri visual magnitude is 2.3. Thanks to its high brightness, ε Centauri is clearly visible when observed from locations with dark skyes, and should be also quite easily visible from light polluted areas.

The table below summarizes the key facts about ε Centauri:

Color of ε Centauri ⬤

Magnitude of ε Centauri 2.3

Class Giant

VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW ε Centauri (epsilon Centauri) is below the horizon from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change].

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of ε Centauri

ε Centauri is situated south of the celestial equator, as such, it is more easily visible from the southern emisphere. Celestial coordinates for the J2000 equinox as well as galactic coordinates of ε Centauri are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 13h 39m 53s

Declination J2000 -53° 27’ 59”

Galactic Longitude 310.19°

Galactic Latitude 8.72°

Constellation Centaurus

The simplified sky map below shows the position of ε Centauri in the sky:

Finder chart ε Centauri (epsilon Centauri) star

Simplified finder chart for ε Centauri (epsilon Centauri).

Visibility of ε Centauri from your location

Location: Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]
Latitude: 51° 28’ 47” N
Longitude: 0° 00’ 00” E
Timezone: Europe/London

ε Centauri (epsilon Centauri) is currently not visible from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]

Digitized Sky Survey image of ε Centauri

The image below is a photograph of ε Centauri from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2 - see the credits section) taken in the red channel. The area of sky represented in the image is 0.5x0.5 degrees (30x30 arcmins). The proper motion of ε Centauri is -0.028 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.016 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

Image of ε Centauri (epsilon Centauri) star

DSS2 image of ε Centauri. The red arrow shows the motion of ε Centauri during the next 10000 years (-4.67 arcmin in Right Ascension and -2.67 arcmin in declination);

Distance of ε Centauri from the Sun and relative movement

ε Centauri is distant 375.58 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 3 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 115.21 pc

Distance (light year) 375.58 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 3 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.028 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.016 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of ε Centauri

ε Centauri belongs to spectral class B1 and has a luminosity class of III corresponding to a giant star.

Absolute magnitude -3.01

Spectral Type B1III

Color Index (B-V) -0.22

Temperature of ε Centauri 14087K

The red dot in the diagram below shows where ε Centauri is situated in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.

H-R diagram showing the position of ε Centauri. Attribution: Richard Powell / CC BY-SA

ε Centauri star system properties

ε Centauri is a visual double star which can be observed only with the help of very large telescopes. The table below shows key information about the ε Centauri double sysyem:

Main star magnitude 2.3

Secondary star magnitude 10.7

Magnitude difference 8.4

Separation 36.9 arcsec

Alternative designations of ε Centauri

Bayer designation ε Centauri
(epsilon Centauri)

Henry Draper Catalogue HD118716

SAO Catalogue SAO241047

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP66657

Durchmusterung Catalogue CP-52 6655

FK5 Catalogue 504

General Catalogue of Variable Stars Eps Cen

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Other stars in Centaurus