69 Virginis is a single[10] star in the zodiac constellation of Virgo, located about 259 light years away. It is visible to the naked eye as a faint orange-hued star with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.76,[2] although it is a suspected variable that may range in magnitude from 4.75 down to 4.79.[11] This object is moving closer to the Earth with a heliocentric radial velocity of −13 km/s.[5] The light from this star is polarized due to intervening interstellar dust.[12]
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS) | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Right ascension | 13h 27m 27.16348s[1] |
| Declination | −15° 58′ 24.8980″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 4.76[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Evolutionary stage | horizontal branch |
| Spectral type | K0 III-IIIb CN1.5 CH0.5[3] |
| U−B color index | +1.06[4] |
| B−V color index | +1.09[4] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | −12.9±0.5[5] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −121.016[1] mas/yr Dec.: +21.197[1] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 12.5871 ± 0.2367 mas[1] |
| Distance | 259 ± 5 ly (79 ± 1 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | 0.09[2] |
| Details[6] | |
| Mass | 3.51±0.94 M☉ |
| Radius | 15[7] R☉ |
| Luminosity | 87.1[7] L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 2.70±0.11 cgs |
| Temperature | 4,909±92 K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | 0.11[8] dex |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 4.3[7] km/s |
| Age | 288+343 −156 Myr |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
This is an evolved K-type giant star with a stellar classification of K0 III-IIIb CN1.5 CH0.5,[3] showing overabundances of CN and CH molecules in the spectrum. It is a red clump giant, which indicates is on the horizontal branch generating energy via helium fusion at its core.[13] The star is about 288 million years old with 3.5[6] times the mass of the Sun and 15[7] times the Sun's radius. It is radiating 87[7] times the Sun's luminosity from its enlarged photosphere at an effective temperature of 4,909 K.[6]