YZ Ceti
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Observation data Epoch J2000 |
|
---|---|
Constellation (pronunciation) |
Cetus |
Right ascension | 01h 12m 30.6s |
Declination | -16° 59' 56" |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 12.10 |
Characteristics | |
Spectral type | M4.5V |
U-B color index | 1.35 |
B-V color index | 1.83 |
Variable type | Flare star |
Astrometry | |
Radial velocity (Rv) | +28.2 km/s |
Proper motion (μ) | RA: 1210.09 mas/yr Dec.: 646.95 mas/yr |
Parallax (π) | 268.84 ± 2.95 mas |
Distance | 12.1 ± 0.1 ly (3.72 ± 0.04 pc) |
Absolute magnitude (MV) | 14.25 |
Other designations | |
YZ Ceti is a red dwarf star in the constellation Cetus. Although it is relatively close to the Sun at just over 12 light years, this star can not be seen with the naked eye. It is classified as a flare star that undergoes intermittent fluctuations in luminosity. YZ Ceti is only about 8.5% the mass of our Sun, and is normally less than 1/5000th as luminous.[citation needed]
This star is unusually close to Tau Ceti, a star of spectral class G8. The two are only about 1.6 light years apart[1], just more than 1/3rd the distance from the Sun to our nearest neighbor, Proxima Centauri.
[edit] References
- ^ Page of Tau Ceti, see the chapter of Closest Neighbors, for YZ Ceti.