# Chi Centauri

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Star in the constellation Centaurus

χ Centauri Location of χ Centauri (circled in red) Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 Constellation Centaurus Right ascension 14h 06m 02.768s[1] Declination −41° 10′ 46.68″[1] Apparent magnitude (V) +4.353±0.007[2] Characteristics Evolutionary stage main sequence Spectral type B2 V[3] U−B color index −0.774±0.013[2] B−V color index −0.195±0.006[2] Variable type β Cep[4] Astrometry Radial velocity (Rv) +12[5] km/s Proper motion (μ) RA: −23.764 mas/yr[1] Dec.: −20.041 mas/yr[1] Parallax (π) 6.4882±0.2164 mas[1] Distance 500 ± 20 ly (154 ± 5 pc) Absolute magnitude (MV) −1.50±0.14[6] Details[6] Mass 7.1±0.2 M☉ Radius 3.5±0.3 R☉ Luminosity 2,090+310 −270 L☉ Surface gravity (log g) 4.22±0.05 cgs Temperature 20,800±300 K Rotational velocity (v sin i) 18±1[2] km/s Age 12+4 −5 Myr Other designations χ Cen, CD−40°8405, GC 19017, HD 122980, HIP 68862, HR 5285, SAO 224673[7] Database references SIMBAD data

**Chi Centauri** is a blue-white [star](/source/Star) in the southern [constellation](/source/Constellation) of [Centaurus](/source/Centaurus). Its name is a [Bayer designation](/source/Bayer_designation) that is [Latinized](/source/Romanization_of_Greek) from χ Centauri, and abbreviated Chi Cen or χ Cen. This star is visible to the [naked eye](/source/Naked_eye) with an [apparent visual magnitude](/source/Apparent_visual_magnitude) that varies around +4.35.[2] Based on [parallax](/source/Stellar_parallax) measurements, it is located at a distance of approximately 500 [light years](/source/Light_years) from the Earth. The star is drifting further away with a line of sight velocity component of +12 km/s.[5]

A [light curve](/source/Light_curve) for Chi Centauri, plotted from *[TESS](/source/Transiting_Exoplanet_Survey_Satellite)* data.[8]

χ Centauri has a [stellar classification](/source/Stellar_classification) of B2 V,[3] presenting as a young [B-type main-sequence star](/source/B-type_main-sequence_star). It is classified as a [Beta Cephei type](/source/Beta_Cephei_variable) [variable star](/source/Variable_star) and its brightness varies by 0.02 magnitudes with a period of 50.40 minutes. At the age of around 12 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](/source/Photosphere) at an [effective temperature](/source/Effective_temperature) of 20,800 K.[6]

This star is a [proper motion](/source/Proper_motion) member of the Upper Centaurus–Lupus sub-group in the [Scorpius–Centaurus](/source/Scorpius%E2%80%93Centaurus_association) [OB association](/source/Stellar_association), the nearest such co-moving association of massive stars to the Sun.[9]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-GaiaDR3_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-GaiaDR3_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-GaiaDR3_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-GaiaDR3_1-3) Vallenari, A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (2023), ["*Gaia* Data Release 3. Summary of the content and survey properties"](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F202243940), *Astronomy and Astrophysics*, **674**: A1, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[2208.00211](https://arxiv.org/abs/2208.00211), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2023A&A...674A...1G](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2023A&A...674A...1G), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361/202243940](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F202243940), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [244398875](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:244398875) [Gaia DR3 record for this source](https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-4?-source=+I%2F355&-from=nav&-nav=cat%3AI%2F355%26tab%3A%7BI%2F355%2Fgaiadr3%7D%26key%3Asource%3D1355%2Fgaiadr3%26HTTPPRM%3A%26-out.add%3D.%26Source%3D%3D%3D6110115278109271808%26-go+%25%23Sesame%23%25%26) at [VizieR](/source/VizieR).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AAA550_A26_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AAA550_A26_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-AAA550_A26_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-AAA550_A26_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-AAA550_A26_2-4) Nieva, M.-F. (February 2013). "Temperature, gravity, and bolometric correction scales for non-supergiant OB stars". *Astronomy & Astrophysics*. **550**: A26. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1212.0928](https://arxiv.org/abs/1212.0928). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2013A&A...550A..26N](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013A&A...550A..26N). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361/201219677](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F201219677). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [119275940](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:119275940).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-mnras410_1_190_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-mnras410_1_190_3-1) Tetzlaff, N.; et al. (January 2011). ["A catalogue of young runaway Hipparcos stars within 3 kpc from the Sun"](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2966.2010.17434.x). *[Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society](/source/Monthly_Notices_of_the_Royal_Astronomical_Society)*. **410** (1): 190–200. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1007.4883](https://arxiv.org/abs/1007.4883). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2011MNRAS.410..190T](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011MNRAS.410..190T). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17434.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1365-2966.2010.17434.x). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [118629873](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:118629873).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-gcvs_4-0)** Samus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007-2013)". *VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S*. **1**. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2009yCat....102025S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009yCat....102025S).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Wilson_1953_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Wilson_1953_5-1) Wilson, R. E. (1953). *General Catalogue of Stellar Radial Velocities*. Carnegie Institute of Washington D.C. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1953GCRV..C......0W](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1953GCRV..C......0W).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nieva2014_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nieva2014_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nieva2014_6-2) Nieva, María-Fernanda; Przybilla, Norbert (2014). "Fundamental properties of nearby single early B-type stars". *Astronomy & Astrophysics*. **566**: A7. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1412.1418](https://arxiv.org/abs/1412.1418). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2014A&A...566A...7N](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014A&A...566A...7N). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361/201423373](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F201423373). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [119227033](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:119227033).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SIMBAD_7-0)** ["chi Cen"](http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=chi+Cen). *[SIMBAD](/source/SIMBAD)*. [Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg](/source/Centre_de_donn%C3%A9es_astronomiques_de_Strasbourg). Retrieved 2026-01-04.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MAST_8-0)** ["MAST: Barbara A. Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes"](https://mast.stsci.edu/portal/Mashup/Clients/Mast/Portal.html). Space Telescope Science Institute. Retrieved 29 September 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-aaa216_1_44_9-0)** de Geus, E. J.; et al. (June 1989). "Physical parameters of stars in the Scorpio-Centaurus OB association". *Astronomy and Astrophysics*. **216** (1–2): 44–61. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1989A&A...216...44D](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1989A&A...216...44D).

v t e Constellation of Centaurus List of stars in Centaurus Centaurus in Chinese astronomy Stars Bayer α A (Rigil Kentaurus) B (Toliman) C (Proxima Centauri) β (Hadar) γ δ ε ζ (Leepwal) η θ (Menkent) ι (Kulou) κ λ μ ν (Heng) ξ1 ξ2 ο1 ο2 π ρ σ τ υ1 υ2 φ χ ψ x1 x2 C3 D E F G H J K M N Q Flamsteed 1 (i) 2 (g) 3 (k) 4 (h) Variable R T V Y RR SV SX BV DY UY V346 V553 V744 V752 V761 (a) V763 (C1) V766 V779 (Krzemiński's star) V803 V810 V816 (Przybylski's Star) V831 V842 V885 V886 V863 V1032 V1369 V1400 V1935 HR 4460 (A) 4466 (C2) 4499 4522 4523 4537 (j) 4546 (B) 4721 4748 (u) 4796 4817 (l) 4831 (w) 4874 (p) 4888 (e) 4889 (n) 4940 (f) 4979 4989 5006 (r) 5041 (m) 5089 (d) 5174 (z) 5222 (y) 5224 5241 5297 5358 (v) 5371 5471 (b) 5485 (c1) 5489 (c2) HD 97413 98176 100453 101581 101930 102117 (Uklun) 103197 107914 108236 109749 110113 113538 113766 114386 114729 115600 116434 (Matza) 117207 117618 (Dofida) 117939 120411 121228 121504 124448 (Popper's Star) 125072 125595 131399 Other 2MASS J1126−5003 2M1207 Gaia BH2 HD 131399 Ab PSR B1259−63 PSR J1311−3430 TOI-763 WASP-15 (Nyamien) WASP-41 WASP-42 WASP-167/KELT-13 Exoplanets 2M1207b b Centauri b HD 101930 b HD 102117 b (Leklsullun) HD 103197 b HD 109749 b HD 113538 b c HD 114386 b HD 114729 b HD 117207 b HD 117618 b (Noifasui) HD 121504 b HIP 65426 b (Najsakopajk) HIP 67522 b NGTS-13b Proxima Centauri b c d WASP-15b (Asye) Star clusters NGC 3766 4230 4507 5281 5286 5316 5460 5617 5662 Other IC 2944 ω Centauri Scorpius–Centaurus association Stock 16 Nebulae NGC 3918 5307 Other Boomerang Nebula Fleming 1 G292.0+1.8 G306.3-0.9 Gum 41 IC 2944 IRAS 13208−6020 RCW 79 RCW 86 Southern Crab Nebula SuWt 2 Galaxies NGC 3557 3568 3749 3783 4444 4603 4622 4650A 4683 4696 4706 4709 4729 4730 4743 4744 4909 4930 4945 4976 5011 A 5026 5064 5082 5090 5091 5102 5114 5121 5128 (Centaurus A) 5161 5206 5253 5266 5291 5398 5408 5419 5483 5516 Other ESO 269-57 ESO 325-4 ESO 383-76 ESO 444-46 Fourcade-Figueroa Object IC 3370 IC 4214 IC 4329A IRAS 13224−3809 J1144−4308 LEDA 677373 PKS 1144−379 PKS 1353−341 PKS 1424−418 Galaxy clusters Abell S740 Centaurus Cluster Shapley Supercluster Astronomical events GW190521 SN 185 SN 1895B (Z) SN 1972E SN 1986G J1407b SN 2019so Category

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chi Centauri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Centauri) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Centauri?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.