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AsteriaStar
Main-sequence star · Horologium

Nu Horologii

Knowledge graphNu HorHR 852HD 17848HIP 13141

Scientific overview

Nu Horologii is a main-sequence star in the constellation Horologium (Horologii), lying about 164.56 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 typeA2V
Luminosity classV
Apparent magnitude5.25
Absolute magnitude1.74
Luminosity (Sun = 1)17.604
Colour index (B−V)0.101
Distance164.56 ly (50.45 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 4721400206385912960

Parallax19.2611 ± 0.0635 masSIMBAD · measured
Distance51.8914 pcGaia · estimated
Proper motion (RA)94.372 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Proper motion (Dec)28.564 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Radial velocity13.58 ± 1.67 km/sSIMBAD · measured
Spectral typeA2VSIMBAD · catalogued
Effective temperature8362.7 KGaia · modeled
Radius1.9789 R_sunGaia · modeled
Surface gravity (log g)4.0558 log(cm/s^2)Gaia · modeled
Metallicity [M/H]-0.4775 dexGaia · modeled
Right ascension (ICRS)42.2562 degSIMBAD · measured
Declination (ICRS)-62.8065 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 4721400206385912960 · 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 · 2018MNRAS.480..488I · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Spectral type: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · sp_type · 1975MSS...C01....0H · catalogue identifier/value · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Effective temperature: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · teff_gspphot · row 4721400206385912960 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Radius: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · radius_gspphot · row 4721400206385912960 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Surface gravity (log g): ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · logg_gspphot · row 4721400206385912960 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Metallicity [M/H]: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · mh_gspphot · row 4721400206385912960 · 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
Horologium
Hemisphere
Southern
Best seen
Winter (N. evening sky)
RA / Dec
2.8171h / -62.8065°

Knowledge connections

  • In constellationHorologium

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.