Theta Centauri

θ Centauri

Observation data Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation	Centaurus
Right ascension	14h06m41.3s
Declination	-36°22′07.3″
Apparent magnitude (V)	+2.06
Characteristics
Spectral type	K0IIIb
U−B color index	+0.88
B−V color index	+1.01
Variable type	none
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	+1.3 km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: -519.29 mas/yr Dec.: -517.87 mas/yr
Parallax (π)	53.52 ± 0.79 mas
Distance	60.9 ± 0.9 ly (18.7 ± 0.3 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	+0.70
Details
Mass	4 M☉
Radius	16 R☉
Luminosity	45 L☉
Temperature	4,500 K
Other designations
Menkent, Haratan, Gl 539, HR 5288, CD−35°9260, CP−35°6109, HD 123139, LHS 2858, SAO 205188, FK5 520, HIP 68933.

Theta Centauri (θ Cen, θ Centauri) is a star in the constellation Centaurus. It is also has the traditional Arabic name Menkent (possibly abbreviation of ألمنكب ألقنتوس - al mankib al-qanturis, meaning "shoulder of the Centaur"). It is an orange K-type giant with an apparent magnitude of +2.06 and is approximately 60.94 light years from Earth.

In Chinese, 庫樓 (Kù Lóu), meaning Arsenal, refers to an asterism consisting of θ Centauri, ζ Centauri, η Centauri, 2 Centauri, HD 117440, ξ¹ Centauri, γ Centauri, τ Centauri, D Centauri and σ Centauri.^[1] Consequently, θ Centauri itself is known as 庫樓三 (Kù Lóu sān, English: the Third Star of Arsenal.)^[2]

References

1. ^ (Chinese) 中國星座神話, written by 陳久金. Published by 台灣書房出版有限公司, 2005, ISBN 978-986-7332-25-7.
2. ^ (Chinese) 香港太空館 - 研究資源 - 亮星中英對照表, Hong Kong Space Museum. Accessed on line November 23, 2010.