ξ Pavonis, Latinised as Xi Pavonis, is a triple star[8] system in the southern constellation of Pavo. It is visible to the naked eye as a faint star with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 4.35[2] The system is located approximately 440 light-years from the Sun based on parallax,[1] and it is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +12 km/s.[5]

Xi Pavonis

Location of ξ Pavonis (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Pavo
Right ascension	18h 23m 13.64610s[1]
Declination	−61° 29′ 37.9364″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)	4.35[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type	K4III[3]
U−B color index	+1.55[4]
B−V color index	+1.46[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	+12.2±0.9[5] km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: −5.985[1] mas/yr Dec.: −0.538[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)	7.3600 ± 0.3753 mas[1]
Distance	440 ± 20 ly (136 ± 7 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	−1.16[2]
Orbit[6]
Period (P)	2,214 d
Eccentricity (e)	0.26
Periastron epoch (T)	2,418,076.2 JD
Argument of periastron (ω) (secondary)	187.2°
Semi-amplitude (K1) (primary)	17.9 km/s
Details
Radius	54.82+0.32 −3.92[1] R☉
Luminosity	729±42[1] L☉
Temperature	4,051+153 −117[1] K
Other designations
GLE 2, ξ Pav, CPD−61°6140, FK5 686, GC 25045, HD 168339, HIP 90098, HR 6855, SAO 254226, CCDM J18232-6130AB, WDS J18232-6130AB[7]
Database references
SIMBAD	data

This system forms the double star GLE 2, whose companion's magnitude is 8.6 with a 3.3″ angular separation, which was discovered by Australian amateur astronomer Walter Gale[9] in 1894. The primary component is itself a single-lined spectroscopic binary[10][11] with an orbital period of 6.06 years and an eccentricity of 0.26.[6] The visible member of this inner pair is an aging giant star with a stellar classification of K4III.[2]

References