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Red dwarf · Orion

4 Orionis

Knowledge graph4 OriHR 1556HD 30959HIP 22667

Scientific overview

4 Orionis is a red dwarf in the constellation Orion (Orionis), lying about 651 light-years from Earth.

Class M. Cool red stars. The most common type in the galaxy, ranging from red dwarfs to red giants. Such stars have surface temperatures around 2,400–3,700 K and appear red to the eye.

Physical properties

Spectral typeM3Sv
Apparent magnitude4.71
Absolute magnitude-1.79
Luminosity (Sun = 1)453
Colour index (B−V)1.773
Distance651 ly (199.6 pc)

Values are real catalogue data; fields without a reliable value are omitted, never estimated.

Precision measurements

Astrometry and astrophysics from SIMBAD and Gaia DR3 · Gaia DR3 3296627028792695168 · elevated RUWE

Parallax5.8125 ± 0.2035 masSIMBAD · measured
Distance170.9 pcGaia · estimated
Proper motion (RA)1.422 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Proper motion (Dec)-54.863 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Radial velocity-8.4 ± 0.23 km/sSIMBAD · measured
Spectral typeM3SIIISIMBAD · catalogued
Right ascension (ICRS)73.1332 degSIMBAD · measured
Declination (ICRS)14.2506 degSIMBAD · measured
Full field-level provenance
  • Parallax: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · plx_value · 2020yCat.1350....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Distance: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia EDR3 · Bailer-Jones (2021) · external.gaiaedr3_distance · r_med_geo · row 3296627028792695168 · Bayesian estimate · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Proper motion (RA): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · pmra · 2020yCat.1350....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Proper motion (Dec): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · pmdec · 2020yCat.1350....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Radial velocity: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · rvz_radvel · 2005A&A...430..165F · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Spectral type: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · sp_type · 1990A&AS...85.1069S · catalogue identifier/value · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Right ascension (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · ra · 2020yCat.1350....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Declination (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · dec · 2020yCat.1350....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11

measured = direct catalogue value · estimated = Bayesian inference (Bailer-Jones distance) · modeled = model output (Gaia GSP-Phot). Fields a source did not provide are omitted, never invented.

Evolution

A red dwarf is a small, cool, low-mass main-sequence star. Red dwarfs burn their fuel so slowly that they can shine for tens of billions of years — far longer than the present age of the universe.

Location in the sky

Constellation
Orion
Hemisphere
Both (equatorial)
Best seen
Winter (N. evening sky)
RA / Dec
4.8755h / 14.2506°

Knowledge connections

  • In constellationOrion

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • HYG DatabaseHYG Database (Hipparcos + Yale Bright Star + Gliese), by D. Nash / astronexus

    Aggregated, openly-licensed star catalogue combining Hipparcos, the Yale Bright Star Catalogue, and the Gliese Catalogue of Nearby Stars.

  • HipparcosESA Hipparcos space astrometry mission

    High-precision parallax, magnitude, and position for ~118,000 stars.