| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 |
|
|---|---|
| Constellation | Taurus |
| Right ascension | 03h 45m 49.6067s |
| Declination | 24° 22′ 03.895″ |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 3.871 |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | B8III |
| U−B color index | -0.40 |
| B−V color index | -0.07 |
| Variable type | Suspected |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | 7.5 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) |
RA: 21.09 mas/yr Dec.: -45.03 mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 8.2 ± 1.03mas |
| Distance | approx. 400 ly (approx. 120 pc) |
| Absolute magnitude (MV) | -1.69 |
| Details | |
| Mass | 5+ M☉ |
| Radius | 6.04 R☉ |
| Luminosity | 850 L☉ |
| Temperature | 12,600 K |
| Metallicity | 1.10 Fe/H |
| Rotation | 33 km/s |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
Coordinates:
03h 45m 49.607s, +24° 22′ 03.895″
Maia, designated 20 Tauri (abbreviated 20 Tau), is a star in the constellation of Taurus. It is the fourth-brightest star in the Pleiades open star cluster (M45), after Alcyone, Atlas and Electra, in that order. Maia is a blue giant of spectral type B8 III, and a mercury-manganese star.
Maia's visual magnitude is 3.871, requiring darker skies to be seen. Its total bolometric luminosity is 660 times solar, mostly in the ultraviolet, thus suggesting a radius that is 5.5 times that of the Sun and a mass that is slightly more than 4 times solar. It was thought to be a variable star by astronomer Otto Struve. A class of stars known as Maia variables was proposed, which included Gamma Ursae Minoris, but Maia and some others in the class have since been found to be stable.