Ross 686
Scientific overview
Ross 686 is a red dwarf in the constellation Hydra (Hydrae), lying about 80 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 type | dM4 |
| Apparent magnitude | 12.68 |
| Absolute magnitude | 10.73 |
| Luminosity (Sun = 1) | 0.004 |
| Colour index (B−V) | 1.47 |
| Distance | 80 ly (24.53 pc) |
Values are real catalogue data; fields without a reliable value are omitted, never estimated.
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
Knowledge connections
- In constellationHydra
- Part of systemRoss 687
Related stars in Hydra
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.