φ Centauri (phi Centauri)

φ Centauri is a variable sub-giant star in the constellation of Centaurus.

φ Centauri visual magnitude is 3.83. Because of its moderate brightness, φ Centauri should be easily visible from locations with dark skyes, while it can be barely visible, or not visible at all, from skyes affected by light pollution.

The table below summarizes the key facts about φ Centauri:

Color of φ Centauri ⬤

Magnitude of φ Centauri 3.83

Class Sub-giant

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

Celestial coordinates and finder chart of φ Centauri

φ 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 φ Centauri are provided in the following table:

Right Ascension J2000 13h 58m 16s

Declination J2000 -42° 06’ 02”

Galactic Longitude 315.98°

Galactic Latitude 19.07°

Constellation Centaurus

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

Finder chart φ Centauri (phi Centauri) star

Simplified finder chart for φ Centauri (phi Centauri).

Visibility of φ Centauri from your location

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

φ Centauri (phi Centauri) is currently not visible from Greenwich, United Kingdom [change]

Digitized Sky Survey image of φ Centauri

The image below is a photograph of φ 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 φ Centauri is -0.024 arcsec per year in Right Ascension and -0.021 arcsec per year in Declination and the associated displacement for the next 10000 years is represented with the red arrow.

DSS2 image of φ Centauri. The red arrow shows the motion of φ Centauri during the next 10000 years (-4.00 arcmin in Right Ascension and -3.50 arcmin in declination);

Distance of φ Centauri from the Sun and relative movement

φ Centauri is distant 465.05 light years from the Sun and it is moving far from the Sun at the speed of 6 kilometers per second.

Distance (parsec) 142.65 pc

Distance (light year) 465.05 ly

Heliocentric radial velocity 6 km/s

Proper Motion RA -0.024 arcsec/year

Proper Motion Dec -0.021 arcsec/year

Spectral properties of φ Centauri

φ Centauri belongs to spectral class B2 and has a luminosity class of IV corresponding to a sub-giant star.

Absolute magnitude -1.94

Spectral Type B2IV

Color Index (B-V) -0.21

Temperature of φ Centauri 13831K

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

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

Alternative designations of φ Centauri

Bayer designation φ Centauri
(phi Centauri)

Henry Draper Catalogue HD121743

SAO Catalogue SAO224577

Hipparcos Catalogue HIP68245

Durchmusterung Catalogue CD-41 8329

General Catalogue of Variable Stars 6509

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Other stars in Centaurus