Beta Eridani
 Location of β Eridani (circled) |
|
| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 (ICRS) |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation | Eridanus |
| Right ascension | 05h 07m 50.98549s |
| Declination | −05° 05′ 11.2055″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 2.796 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | A3 III var |
| U−B color index | +0.124 |
| B−V color index | +0.110 |
| R−I color index | +0.08 |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | –3.6 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) |
RA: -82.82 mas/yr Dec.: -75.39 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 36.50 ± 0.42mas |
| Distance | 89 ± 1 ly (27.4 ± 0.3 pc) |
| Details | |
| Mass | 2.0 M☉ |
| Radius | 2.4 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 25 L☉ |
| Surface gravity (log g) | 3.58 cgs |
| Temperature | 8,360, 8,104 K |
| Metallicity [Fe/H] | –0.4 dex |
| Rotational velocity (v sin i) | 196 km/s |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Beta Eridani (β Eridani, abbreviated Beta Eri, β Eri), also named Cursa, is the second brightest star in the constellation of Eridanus, located in the northeast end of this constellation near the shared border with Orion. The apparent visual magnitude of this star is 2.796, so it can be viewed with the naked eye in dark skies. Parallax measurements yield an estimated distance of about 89 light-years (27 parsecs) from the Earth.
Beta Eridani is the star's Bayer designation. It has the traditional name Cursa derived from Al Kursiyy al Jauzah, "the Chair (or "Footstool") of the Central One". This is the name of the star association consisting of this star along with Lambda Eridani, Psi Eridani and Tau Orionis. According to a NASA catalogue of stars, Al Kursiyy al Jauzah was the title of three stars: β Eri is Cursa, Psi Eridani Al Kursiyy al Jauzah I, and Lambda Eridani Al Kursiyy al Jauzah II (excluding Tau Orionis). In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN's first bulletin of July 2016 included a table of the first two batches of names approved by the WGSN; which included Cursa for this star.
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