# Tau Centauri

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Star in the constellation Centaurus

Not to be confused with [T Centauri](/source/T_Centauri).

τ Centauri Location of τ Centauri (circled) Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS) Constellation Centaurus[1] Right ascension 12h 37m 42.164s[2] Declination −48° 32′ 28.70″[2] Apparent magnitude (V) +3.86[3] Characteristics Spectral type A0 V[4] or A1 IVnn[5] U−B color index +0.04[3] B−V color index +0.06[3] Astrometry Radial velocity (Rv) +5.5±2.3[6] km/s Proper motion (μ) RA: −186.081 mas/yr[2] Dec.: −6.757 mas/yr[2] Parallax (π) 24.2953±0.53 mas[2] Distance 134 ± 3 ly (41.2 ± 0.9 pc) Absolute magnitude (MV) +0.83[1] Details Mass 2.31[7] M☉ Radius 2.7[8] R☉ Luminosity 39[8] L☉ Surface gravity (log g) 4.02±0.14[7] cgs Temperature 10,533±358[7] K Rotational velocity (v sin i) 296.8±3.8[9] km/s Age 132[7] Myr Other designations τ Cen, CD−47°7745, HD 109787, HIP 61622, HR 4802, SAO 223560[10] Database references SIMBAD data

**Tau Centauri** is a solitary[11] [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 τ Centauri, and abbreviated Tau Cen or τ Cen. This star is visible to the naked eye with an [apparent visual magnitude](/source/Apparent_visual_magnitude) of +3.86.[3] The distance to this star, based upon an annual [parallax shift](/source/Stellar_parallax) of 24.3 [mas](/source/Milliarcsecond),[2] is 131 [light years](/source/Light_year). It makes a [star system](/source/Star_system) with [Gamma Centauri](/source/Gamma_Centauri) at 98% probability, both separated by 1.7 ly (0.53 pc).[12]

This is an [A-type star](/source/A-type_star) with [stellar classifications](/source/Stellar_classification) of A0 V[4] or A1 IVnn,[5] indicating it may be a [main sequence star](/source/Main_sequence_star) or a more [evolved](/source/Stellar_evolution) [subgiant star](/source/Subgiant_star). It is around 132 million years old[7] and is spinning rapidly with a [projected rotational velocity](/source/Projected_rotational_velocity) of 296.8 km/s.[9] This is giving the star an [oblate](/source/Oblate_spheroid) shape, with an estimated equatorial girth that is 30% larger than the polar radius.[13] The star has an estimated 2.3 times the [mass of the Sun](/source/Solar_mass)[7] and 2.7 times the [Sun's radius](/source/Solar_radius).[8]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Anderson2012_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Anderson2012_1-1) Anderson, E.; Francis, Ch. (2012), "XHIP: An extended hipparcos compilation", *[Astronomy Letters](/source/Astronomy_Letters)*, **38** (5): 331, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1108.4971](https://arxiv.org/abs/1108.4971), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2012AstL...38..331A](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012AstL...38..331A), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1134/S1063773712050015](https://doi.org/10.1134%2FS1063773712050015). [XHIP record for this object](https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-4?-ref=VIZ681510a8389ecb&-out.src=V%2F137D%2FXHIP&-nav=cat%3AV%2F137D%26tab%3A{V%2F137D%2FXHIP}%26key%3Asource%3DV%2F137D%2FXHIP%26HTTPPRM%3A&-source=V%2F137D%2FXHIP&-out=HIP&HIP=61622&-out=Comp&-out=Gr&-out=RAJ2000&-out=DEJ2000&-out=Dist&-out=X&-out=Y&-out=Z&-out=SpType&-out=Simbad&-out=Hpmag&-out=Lum&-out=Cst) at [VizieR](/source/VizieR).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-GaiaDR3_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-GaiaDR3_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-GaiaDR3_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-GaiaDR3_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-GaiaDR3_2-4) 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%3D6127688772460862976%26-go+%25%23Sesame%23%25%26) at [VizieR](/source/VizieR).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Mermilliod1986_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Mermilliod1986_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Mermilliod1986_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Mermilliod1986_3-3) Mermilliod, J.-C. (1986), "Compilation of Eggen's UBV data, transformed to UBV (unpublished)", *Catalogue of Eggen's UBV Data*, SIMBAD Astronomical Database, [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1986EgUBV........0M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1986EgUBV........0M).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Lagrange2009_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Lagrange2009_4-1) Lagrange, A.-M.; et al. (February 2009), "Extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs around A-F type stars. VI. High precision RV survey of early type dwarfs with HARPS", *Astronomy and Astrophysics*, **495** (1): 335–352, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[0809.4636](https://arxiv.org/abs/0809.4636), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2009A&A...495..335L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009A&A...495..335L), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361:200810105](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%3A200810105), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [62894956](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:62894956).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Gray2003_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Gray2003_5-1) Gray, R. O.; Garrison, R. F. (July 1989), "The late A-type stars - Refined MK classification, confrontation with Stromgren photometry, and the effects of rotation", *Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series*, **70** (4): 623–636, [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1989ApJS...70..623G](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1989ApJS...70..623G), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1086/191349](https://doi.org/10.1086%2F191349).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-deBruijne2012_6-0)** de Bruijne, J. H. J.; Eilers, A.-C. (October 2012), "Radial velocities for the HIPPARCOS-Gaia Hundred-Thousand-Proper-Motion project", *Astronomy & Astrophysics*, **546**: 14, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1208.3048](https://arxiv.org/abs/1208.3048), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2012A&A...546A..61D](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012A&A...546A..61D), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361/201219219](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F201219219), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [59451347](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:59451347), A61.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-David2015_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-David2015_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-David2015_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-David2015_7-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-David2015_7-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-David2015_7-5) David, Trevor J.; Hillenbrand, Lynne A. (2015), "The Ages of Early-Type Stars: Strömgren Photometric Methods Calibrated, Validated, Tested, and Applied to Hosts and Prospective Hosts of Directly Imaged Exoplanets", *The Astrophysical Journal*, **804** (2): 146, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1501.03154](https://arxiv.org/abs/1501.03154), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2015ApJ...804..146D](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015ApJ...804..146D), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1088/0004-637X/804/2/146](https://doi.org/10.1088%2F0004-637X%2F804%2F2%2F146), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [33401607](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:33401607).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tycho-gaia_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tycho-gaia_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-tycho-gaia_8-2) McDonald, I.; et al. (October 2017), "Fundamental parameters and infrared excesses of Tycho-Gaia stars", *Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society*, **471** (1): 770–791, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1706.02208](https://arxiv.org/abs/1706.02208), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2017MNRAS.471..770M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017MNRAS.471..770M), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/mnras/stx1433](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fmnras%2Fstx1433), [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0035-8711](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0035-8711).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Diaz2011_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Diaz2011_9-1) Díaz, C. G.; et al. (July 2011), "Accurate stellar rotational velocities using the Fourier transform of the cross correlation maximum", *Astronomy & Astrophysics*, **531**: A143, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1012.4858](https://arxiv.org/abs/1012.4858), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2011A&A...531A.143D](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011A&A...531A.143D), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361/201016386](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F201016386), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [119286673](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:119286673).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SIMBAD_10-0)** ["tau Cen"](http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=tau+Cen). *[SIMBAD](/source/SIMBAD)*. [Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg](/source/Centre_de_donn%C3%A9es_astronomiques_de_Strasbourg). Retrieved 2017-01-13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-DeRosa2014_11-0)** De Rosa, R. J.; et al. (January 2014), "The VAST Survey - III. The multiplicity of A-type stars within 75 pc", *Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society*, **437** (2): 1216–1240, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1311.7141](https://arxiv.org/abs/1311.7141), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2014MNRAS.437.1216D](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014MNRAS.437.1216D), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/mnras/stt1932](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fmnras%2Fstt1932), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [88503488](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:88503488).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Shaya2011_12-0)** Shaya, Ed J.; Olling, Rob P. (January 2011), "Very Wide Binaries and Other Comoving Stellar Companions: A Bayesian Analysis of the Hipparcos Catalogue", *The Astrophysical Journal Supplement*, **192** (1): 2, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1007.0425](https://arxiv.org/abs/1007.0425), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2011ApJS..192....2S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011ApJS..192....2S), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1088/0067-0049/192/1/2](https://doi.org/10.1088%2F0067-0049%2F192%2F1%2F2), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [119226823](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:119226823)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-belle2012_13-0)** Belle, G. T. (2012), "Interferometric observations of rapidly rotating stars", *The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review*, **20** (1): 51, [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1204.2572](https://arxiv.org/abs/1204.2572), [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2012A&ARv..20...51V](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012A&ARv..20...51V), [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/s00159-012-0051-2](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs00159-012-0051-2), [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [119273474](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:119273474).

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 [Tau Centauri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tau_Centauri) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tau_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.