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Subgiant · Vela

HR 3442

Knowledge graphHR 3442HD 74146HIP 42504

Scientific overview

HR 3442 is a subgiant in the constellation Vela (Velorum), lying about 442.5 light-years from Earth.

Class B. Hot, blue-white stars. Massive and luminous, they often light up the regions where they form. Such stars have surface temperatures around 10,000–30,000 K and appear blue-white to the eye.

Physical properties

Spectral typeB4IV
Luminosity classIV
Apparent magnitude5.18
Absolute magnitude-0.48
Luminosity (Sun = 1)136
Colour index (B−V)-0.147
Distance442.5 ly (135.69 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 5318541982145960064

Parallax6.558 ± 0.0993 masSIMBAD · measured
Distance152 pcGaia · estimated
Proper motion (RA)-24.796 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Proper motion (Dec)23.373 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Radial velocity-43.93 ± 0.234 km/sSIMBAD · measured
Spectral typeB5IVSIMBAD · catalogued
Effective temperature14448.8 KGaia · modeled
Radius3.6191 R_sunGaia · modeled
Surface gravity (log g)3.8821 log(cm/s^2)Gaia · modeled
Metallicity [M/H]-0.8304 dexGaia · modeled
Right ascension (ICRS)130 degSIMBAD · measured
Declination (ICRS)-53.0547 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 5318541982145960064 · 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 · 2023ApJS..266...11B · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Spectral type: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · sp_type · 1978MSS...C02....0H · catalogue identifier/value · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Effective temperature: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · teff_gspphot · row 5318541982145960064 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Radius: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · radius_gspphot · row 5318541982145960064 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Surface gravity (log g): ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · logg_gspphot · row 5318541982145960064 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Metallicity [M/H]: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · mh_gspphot · row 5318541982145960064 · 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 subgiant has begun to evolve off the main sequence, brightening and expanding as core hydrogen fusion ends.

Location in the sky

Constellation
Vela
Hemisphere
Southern
Best seen
Spring (N. evening sky)
RA / Dec
8.666h / -53.0547°

Knowledge connections

  • In constellationVela

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.