Zeta Pyxidis (ζ Pyxidis) is a wide binary star[9] system in the southern constellation of Pyxis. It is visible to the naked eye with a combined apparent visual magnitude of +4.88.[2] Based upon an annual parallax shift of 13.35 mas as seen from Earth,[1] it is located around 244 light years from the Sun.

Zeta Pyxidis

Location of ζ Pyxidis (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS)
Constellation	Pyxis
Right ascension	08h 39m 42.47410s[1]
Declination	−29° 33′ 39.8989″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)	+4.88[2] (4.97 + 9.59)[3]
Characteristics
Spectral type	G6 IIIb CN-0.5[4]
B−V color index	+0.90[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	−30.10[5] km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: −24.81[1] mas/yr Dec.: −90.96[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)	13.35 ± 0.23 mas[1]
Distance	244 ± 4 ly (75 ± 1 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	+0.49[6]
Details
ζ Pyx A
Mass	1.96[5] M☉
Luminosity	69[5] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)	2.72±0.06[7] cgs
Temperature	4,876±8[5] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]	−0.43±0.02[7] dex
Age	1.88[5] Gyr
Other designations
ζ Pyx, CPD−29° 2756, FK5 2680, HD 73898, HIP 42483, HR 3433, SAO 176253, WDS J08397-2934A[8]
Database references
SIMBAD	data

The yellow-hued primary, component A, is an evolved G-type giant star with a stellar classification of G6 IIIb CN-0.5,[4] where the suffix notation indicating it has anomalously weak lines of cyanogen. At the age of 1.88 billion years,[5] is a red clump star that is generating energy through the fusion of helium at its core.[10] The primary has nearly double the mass of the Sun and is radiating 69 times the Sun's luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 4,876 K.[5]

The companion, component B, is a magnitude 9.59 star at an angular separation of 52.20 arc seconds along a position angle of 61°, as of 2010.[3]

References