# V Centauri

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Variable star in the constellation Centaurus

This article is about V Centauri; not to be confused with [v Centauri](/source/HD_125288).

V Centauri A light curve for V Centauri, plotted from Hipparcos data[1] Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 Constellation Centaurus Right ascension 14h 32m 33.0833s[2] Declination −56° 53′ 15.774″[2] Apparent magnitude (V) 6.42 - 7.22[3] Characteristics Spectral type F5 Ib/II[4] B−V color index 0.87[5] Variable type Classical Cepheid[3] Astrometry Radial velocity (Rv) −18.90 ± 1.4[6] km/s Proper motion (μ) RA: −6.697[2] mas/yr Dec.: −7.068[2] mas/yr Parallax (π) 1.3898±0.0221 mas[2] Distance 2,350 ± 40 ly (720 ± 10 pc) Details Mass 4.3[7] M☉ Radius 40[2] R☉ Luminosity 1,657[8] L☉ Surface gravity (log g) 1.89[2] cgs Temperature 5,500[8] K Metallicity [Fe/H] +0.12[9] dex Age 103[10] Myr Other designations V Cen, CD−56°5479, HD 127297, HIP 71116, HR 5421, SAO 241777[5] Database references SIMBAD data

**V Centauri** (**V Cen**) is a [Classical Cepheid variable](/source/Classical_Cepheid_variable), a type of [variable](/source/Variable_star) [star](/source/Star), in the constellation [Centaurus](/source/Centaurus_(constellation)). It is approximately 2,350 light-years (720 parsecs) away based on [parallax](/source/Stellar_parallax).

Alexander W. Roberts discovered this star in 1894, and from 267 visual observations he determined is period of variation.[11] V Centauri varies regularly between [visual magnitudes](/source/Visual_magnitude) 6.42 and 7.22 every 5.5 days. It is classified as a [Cepheid variable](/source/Cepheid_variable) on the basis of its light variations, with the brightness increase from minimum to maximum taking only a third of the time of the decrease from maximum to minimum. Cepheids are [pulsating variable stars](/source/Pulsating_variable_star) and V Centauri expands and contracts over its pulsation cycle as well as changing temperature.[3]

According to the South African Astronomical Observatory, the chemical composition was derived as being high in sodium (Na) and aluminium (Al) and low in magnesium (Mg).[12] Following a normal composition for a Cepheid star, V Cen does not have any unusual characteristics. V Centauri's composition was observed alongside six other Classical Cepheid variable stars with the support of Russian, Chilean, and Ukrainian observatories.[12]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-HipDataAccess_1-0)** ["Hipparcos Tools Interactive Data Access"](https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/hipparcos/interactive-data-access). *Hipparcos*. ESA. Retrieved 8 December 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-dr3_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-dr3_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-dr3_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-dr3_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-dr3_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-dr3_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-dr3_2-6) 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%3D5891675303053080704%26-go+%25%23Sesame%23%25%26) at [VizieR](/source/VizieR).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gcvs_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gcvs_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-gcvs_3-2) Samus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007-2013)". *VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S*. **1**: B/GCVS. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2009yCat....102025S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009yCat....102025S).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Houk1975_4-0)** Houk, N.; Cowley, A. P. (1975). "University of Michigan Catalogue of Two-dimensional Spectral Types for the HD Stars. Volume I. Declinations -90°.0 to -53°.0". *Michigan Catalogue of Two-dimensional Spectral Types for the HD Stars*. **1**. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1975mcts.book.....H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1975mcts.book.....H).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SIMBAD_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SIMBAD_5-1) ["V* V Cen"](http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=V%2A+V+Cen). *[SIMBAD](/source/SIMBAD)*. [Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg](/source/Centre_de_donn%C3%A9es_astronomiques_de_Strasbourg).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Gontcharov_6-0)** Gontcharov, G. A. (2006). "Pulkovo Compilation of Radial Velocities for 35 495 Hipparcos stars in a common system". *Astronomy Letters*. **32** (11): 759–771. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1606.08053](https://arxiv.org/abs/1606.08053). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2006AstL...32..759G](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2006AstL...32..759G). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1134/S1063773706110065](https://doi.org/10.1134%2FS1063773706110065). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [119231169](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:119231169).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-marconi2020_7-0)** Marconi, Marcella; et al. (July 2020). ["Predicted Masses of Galactic Cepheids in the Gaia Data Release 2"](https://doi.org/10.3847%2F2041-8213%2Faba12b). *The Astrophysical Journal Letters*. **898** (1): L7. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[2006.16610](https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.16610). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2020ApJ...898L...7M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2020ApJ...898L...7M). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3847/2041-8213/aba12b](https://doi.org/10.3847%2F2041-8213%2Faba12b). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [220265392](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:220265392). L7.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-groenewegen2020_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-groenewegen2020_8-1) Groenewegen, M. A. T. (2020). "Analysing the spectral energy distributions of Galactic classical Cepheids". *[Astronomy and Astrophysics](/source/Astronomy_and_Astrophysics)*. **635**: A33. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[2002.02186](https://arxiv.org/abs/2002.02186). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2020A&A...635A..33G](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2020A&A...635A..33G). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361/201937060](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F201937060). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [211043995](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:211043995).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ripepi2022_9-0)** Ripepi, V.; Catanzaro, G.; Clementini, G.; De Somma, G.; Drimmel, R.; Leccia, S.; Marconi, M.; Molinaro, R.; Musella, I.; Poggio, E. (2022). "Classical Cepheid period-Wesenheit-metallicity relation in the Gaia bands". *Astronomy and Astrophysics*. **659**: A167. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[2201.01126](https://arxiv.org/abs/2201.01126). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2022A&A...659A.167R](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2022A&A...659A.167R). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1051/0004-6361/202142649](https://doi.org/10.1051%2F0004-6361%2F202142649). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [245668845](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:245668845).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-skowran2019_10-0)** Skowron, D. M.; Skowron, J.; Mróz, P.; Udalski, A.; Pietrukowicz, P.; Soszyński, I.; Szymański, M. K.; Poleski, R.; Kozłowski, S.; Ulaczyk, K.; Rybicki, K.; Iwanek, P.; . Wrona, M.; Gromadzki, M. (2019). "Mapping the Northern Galactic Disk Warp with Classical Cepheids". *Acta Astronomica*. **69** (4): 305. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1912.11142](https://arxiv.org/abs/1912.11142). [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2019AcA....69..305S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019AcA....69..305S). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.32023/0001-5237/69.4.1](https://doi.org/10.32023%2F0001-5237%2F69.4.1). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [209460868](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:209460868).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Voûte1927_11-0)** Voûte, J. (1927). ["V Centauri"](https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/pdf/1927AnBos...2B..42V). *Annals of the Bosscha Observatory Lembang (Java) Indonesia*. **2**: B42–B45. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1927AnBos...2B..42V](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1927AnBos...2B..42V). Retrieved 14 January 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Usenko_432–445_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Usenko_432–445_12-1) Usenko, I. A.; Kniazev, A. Yu; Berdnikov, L. N.; Kravtsov, V. V.; Fokin, A. B. (2013-07-01). "Spectroscopic studies of southern-hemisphere Cepheids: Six objects in Centaurus (V Cen, V737 Cen) and Sagittarius (BB Sgr, W Sgr, X Sgr, Y Sgr)". *Astronomy Letters*. **39** (7): 432–445. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2013AstL...39..432U](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013AstL...39..432U). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1134/S1063773713070074](https://doi.org/10.1134%2FS1063773713070074). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1063-7737](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1063-7737). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [121213614](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:121213614).

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 [V Centauri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_Centauri) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_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.