{{Short description|Star in the constellation Centaurus}} {{Starbox begin | name = χ Centauri }} {{Starbox image | image = {{Location mark |image=Centaurus constellation map.svg|alt=|float=center|width=280 |label=|position=right |mark=Red circle.svg|mark_width=10|mark_link=χ Centauri |x=370|y=420 }} | caption = Location of χ Centauri (circled in red) }} {{Starbox observe | epoch = J2000.0 | constell = [[Centaurus]] | ra = {{RA|14|06|02.768}}<ref name=GaiaDR3/> | dec = {{DEC|−41|10|46.68}}<ref name=GaiaDR3/> | appmag_v = +4.353{{±|0.007}}<ref name="AAA550_A26"/> }} {{Starbox character | type = [[main sequence]] | class = B2&nbsp;V<ref name=mnras410_1_190/> | b-v = −0.195{{±|0.006}}<ref name="AAA550_A26"/> | u-b = −0.774{{±|0.013}}<ref name="AAA550_A26"/> | variable = [[Beta Cephei variable|β Cep]]<ref name=gcvs/> }} {{Starbox astrometry | radial_v = +12<ref name=Wilson_1953/> | prop_mo_ra = −23.764 | prop_mo_dec = −20.041 | pm_footnote = <ref name=GaiaDR3/> | parallax = 6.4882 | p_error = 0.2164 | parallax_footnote = <ref name=GaiaDR3/> | absmag_v = {{val|−1.50|0.14}}<ref name=nieva2014/> }} {{Starbox detail | source = <ref name=nieva2014/> | mass = {{val|7.1|0.2}} | radius = {{val|3.5|0.3}} | luminosity = {{val|2090|310|270|fmt=commas}} | temperature = {{val|20800|300|fmt=commas}} | metal_fe = | gravity = {{val|4.22|0.05}} | rotational_velocity = 18{{±|1}}<ref name="AAA550_A26"/> | age_myr = {{val|12|4|5}} }} {{Starbox catalog | names = {{odlist | B=χ Cen | CD=−40°8405 | GC=19017 | HD=122980 | HIP=68862 | HR=5285 | SAO=224673 }}<ref name=SIMBAD/> }} {{Starbox reference | Simbad = chi+Cen }} {{Starbox end}} '''Chi Centauri''' is a blue-white [[star]] in the southern [[constellation]] of [[Centaurus]]. Its name is a [[Bayer designation]] that is [[Romanization of Greek|Latinized]] from χ Centauri, and abbreviated Chi Cen or χ Cen. This star is visible to the [[naked eye]] with an [[apparent visual magnitude]] that varies around +4.35.<ref name="AAA550_A26"/> Based on [[stellar parallax|parallax]] measurements, it is located at a distance of approximately 500&nbsp;[[light years]] from the Earth. The star is drifting further away with a line of sight velocity component of +12&nbsp;km/s.<ref name=Wilson_1953/>

[[File:ChiCenLightCurve.png|thumb|left|A [[light curve]] for Chi Centauri, plotted from ''[[Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite|TESS]]'' data.<ref name=MAST/>]] χ Centauri has a [[stellar classification]] of B2&nbsp;V,<ref name=mnras410_1_190/> presenting as a young [[B-type main-sequence star]]. It is classified as a [[Beta Cephei variable|Beta Cephei type]] [[variable star]] and its brightness varies by 0.02 magnitudes with a period of 50.40 minutes. At the age of around 12&nbsp;million years, it has 7.1 times the mass of the Sun and 3.5 times the Sun's radius. This star is radiating 2,090 times the luminosity of the Sun from its [[photosphere]] at an [[effective temperature]] of 20,800&nbsp;K.<ref name=nieva2014/>

This star is a [[proper motion]] member of the Upper Centaurus–Lupus sub-group in the [[Scorpius–Centaurus association|Scorpius–Centaurus]] [[Stellar association|OB association]], the nearest such co-moving association of massive stars to the Sun.<ref name=aaa216_1_44/>

==References== <references>

<ref name=GaiaDR3>{{Cite Gaia DR3 | 6110115278109271808 | mode=cs2 | access-date=2026-01-04 }}</ref>

<ref name=SIMBAD>{{cite simbad | title=chi Cen | access-date=2026-01-04}}</ref>

<ref name=nieva2014>{{cite journal | last1=Nieva | first1=María-Fernanda | last2=Przybilla | first2=Norbert | title=Fundamental properties of nearby single early B-type stars | journal=Astronomy & Astrophysics | volume=566 | pages=A7 | year=2014 | doi=10.1051/0004-6361/201423373 | bibcode=2014A&A...566A...7N | arxiv=1412.1418 | s2cid=119227033 }}</ref>

<ref name=MAST>{{cite web | title=MAST: Barbara A. Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes | url=https://mast.stsci.edu/portal/Mashup/Clients/Mast/Portal.html | publisher=Space Telescope Science Institute | access-date=29 September 2024}}</ref>

<ref name=aaa216_1_44>{{cite journal | display-authors=1 | last1=de Geus | first1=E. J. | last2=de Zeeuw | first2=P. T. | last3=Lub | first3=J. | title=Physical parameters of stars in the Scorpio-Centaurus OB association | journal=Astronomy and Astrophysics | volume=216 | issue=1–2 | pages=44–61 |date=June 1989 | bibcode=1989A&A...216...44D }}</ref>

<ref name=mnras410_1_190>{{cite journal | display-authors=1 | last1=Tetzlaff | first1=N. | last2=Neuhäuser | first2=R. | last3=Hohle | first3=M. M. | title=A catalogue of young runaway Hipparcos stars within 3 kpc from the Sun | journal=[[Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society]] | volume=410 | issue=1 | pages=190–200 | date=January 2011 | doi=10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17434.x | doi-access=free | bibcode=2011MNRAS.410..190T |arxiv = 1007.4883 | s2cid=118629873 }}</ref>

<ref name="AAA550_A26">{{cite journal | last1 = Nieva | first1 = M.-F. | title = Temperature, gravity, and bolometric correction scales for non-supergiant OB stars | journal = Astronomy & Astrophysics | volume = 550 | page = A26 |date=February 2013 | doi = 10.1051/0004-6361/201219677 | bibcode = 2013A&A...550A..26N | arxiv = 1212.0928 | s2cid = 119275940 }}</ref>

<ref name=gcvs>{{cite journal | title=General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007-2013) | display-authors=etal|last1=Samus|first1=N. N.|last2=Durlevich|first2=O. V. | journal=VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S | volume=1 | year=2009 | bibcode=2009yCat....102025S }}</ref>

<ref name=Wilson_1953>{{cite book | last=Wilson | first=R. E. | date=1953 | title=General Catalogue of Stellar Radial Velocities | publisher=Carnegie Institute of Washington D.C. | bibcode=1953GCRV..C......0W}}</ref>

</references>

{{Stars of Centaurus|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chi Centauri}} <!-- Physical properties --> [[Category:Beta Cephei variables]] [[Category:B-type main-sequence stars]] [[Category:Upper Centaurus Lupus]] <!-- Constellation & catalogues --> [[Category:Centaurus]] [[Category:Bayer objects|Centauri, Chi]] [[Category:Bright Star Catalogue objects|5285]] [[Category:Hipparcos objects|068862]] [[Category:Henry Draper Catalogue objects|122980]] [[Category:Durchmusterung objects|CD-40 8405]]