K Puppis

k Puppis

Location of k Puppis (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation	Puppis
k1 Pup
Right ascension	07h 38m 49.380s
Declination	−26° 48′ 06.49″
Apparent magnitude (V)	+4.50
k2 Pup
Right ascension	07h 38m 49.869s
Declination	−26° 48′ 13.80″
Apparent magnitude (V)	+4.62
Characteristics
k1
Spectral type	B6 V
k2
Spectral type	B5 IV
Astrometry
Distance	454 ly (139.26 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	-1.92 / -1.81
Other designations
CD−26° 4707
k1: HR 2948, HD 61555, SAO 174198, NSV 3673, HIP 37229
k2: HR 2949, HD 61556, SAO 174199, NSV 3673
Database references
SIMBAD	k1 data
	k2 data2

k Puppis (k Pup, k Puppis) is a Bayer designation given to an optical double star in the constellation Puppis, the two components being k¹ Puppis and k² Puppis.

Note that the Bayer designation for this star is "k" not "kappa" (κ). In Bayer's original Uranometria, k Puppis was listed as ρ (rho) Navis. When Lacaille broke apart the large constellation Argo Navis into Carina, Puppis, and Vela, he re-designated the stars with greek letters in a single sequence across all three constellations. Additionally, Lacaille used Latin-script letters for many additional stars. κ (kappa) is in the constellation of Vela and so there is no kappa in Puppis. The confusion also extends to the proper name Markab which properly applies to κ Velorum (and ) but which has also been used for k Puppis when it is called κ Puppis.

Both k¹ Puppis and k² Puppis are bright blue B-type stars of nearly equal brightness, +4.50 and +4.62, respectively. To the naked eye, the pair has a combined magnitude of +3.80. On the sky, the two stars are separated by approximately 9.9 seconds of arc along PA 318°. The optical pair can be distinguished easily with a small telescope. The component k¹ Puppis is a binary star system in its own right, while k² Puppis is a variable star. Each star within the k Puppis optical pair is between 450 and 470 light years from Earth.

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Wikipedia