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AsteriaStar
Main-sequence star · Pyxis

Eta Pyxidis

Knowledge graphEta PyxHR 3420HD 73495HIP 42334

Scientific overview

Eta Pyxidis is a main-sequence star in the constellation Pyxis (Pyxidis), lying about 231.81 light-years from Earth.

Class A. White stars with strong hydrogen lines. Many of the brightest stars in the sky are class A. Such stars have surface temperatures around 7,500–10,000 K and appear white to the eye.

Physical properties

Spectral typeA0V
Luminosity classV
Apparent magnitude5.24
Absolute magnitude0.98
Luminosity (Sun = 1)35.286
Colour index (B−V)-0.03
Distance231.81 ly (71.07 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 5647071417958187392

Parallax13.2198 ± 0.0772 masSIMBAD · measured
Distance75.5842 pcGaia · estimated
Proper motion (RA)-23.876 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Proper motion (Dec)-12.407 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Radial velocity28.28 ± 0.45 km/sSIMBAD · measured
Spectral typeA0VSIMBAD · catalogued
Effective temperature10415.6 KGaia · modeled
Radius2.2875 R_sunGaia · modeled
Surface gravity (log g)3.9967 log(cm/s^2)Gaia · modeled
Metallicity [M/H]-1.3073 dexGaia · modeled
Right ascension (ICRS)129.5 degSIMBAD · measured
Declination (ICRS)-26.255 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 5647071417958187392 · 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 · 2022yCat.1355....0G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Spectral type: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · sp_type · 1988MSS...C04....0H · catalogue identifier/value · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Effective temperature: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · teff_gspphot · row 5647071417958187392 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Radius: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · radius_gspphot · row 5647071417958187392 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Surface gravity (log g): ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · logg_gspphot · row 5647071417958187392 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Metallicity [M/H]: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · mh_gspphot · row 5647071417958187392 · model output · 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 main-sequence star fuses hydrogen into helium in its core. It will remain on the main sequence for most of its life before evolving into a giant.

Location in the sky

Constellation
Pyxis
Hemisphere
Southern
Best seen
Spring (N. evening sky)
RA / Dec
8.6312h / -26.255°

Knowledge connections

  • In constellationPyxis

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.