M Centauri (M Cen) is a binary star in the constellation Centaurus. It is approximately 260 light years from Earth.
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 13h 46m 39.378s[1] |
| Declination | −51° 25′ 57.95″[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +4.64 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | G8-K0III |
| U−B color index | +0.72 |
| B−V color index | +0.96 |
| Variable type | none |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | −6 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: 10.00 ± 0.42[1] mas/yr Dec.: -27.62 ± 0.34[1] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 12.42 ± 0.48 mas[1] |
| Distance | 260 ± 10 ly (81 ± 3 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | +0.16 |
| Orbit[2] | |
| Primary | M Centauri A |
| Companion | M Centauri B |
| Period (P) | 437 days |
| Semi-major axis (a) | 6.45 mas |
| Eccentricity (e) | 0.13 |
| Inclination (i) | 48.2° |
| Longitude of the node (Ω) | 280.3° |
| Periastron epoch (T) | 2424163.0 |
| Argument of periastron (ω) (secondary) | 58.6° |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
M Centauri is a yellow G-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +4.64. It is a spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of 437 days.