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AsteriaStar
Main-sequence star · Eridanus

Xi Eridani

Knowledge graphXi Eri42 EriHR 1383HD 27861

Scientific overview

Xi Eridani is a main-sequence star in the constellation Eridanus (Eridani), lying about 209.07 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 magnitude5.17
Absolute magnitude1.14
Luminosity (Sun = 1)30.591
Colour index (B−V)0.072
Distance209.07 ly (64.1 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 3203176408811870592

Parallax15.5196 ± 0.0866 masSIMBAD · measured
Distance64.3226 pcGaia · estimated
Proper motion (RA)-48.723 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Proper motion (Dec)-55.757 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Radial velocity-11.67 ± 0.39 km/sSIMBAD · measured
Spectral typeA1VSIMBAD · catalogued
Effective temperature8542.2 KGaia · modeled
Radius2.5285 R_sunGaia · modeled
Surface gravity (log g)3.8536 log(cm/s^2)Gaia · modeled
Metallicity [M/H]-0.9101 dexGaia · modeled
Right ascension (ICRS)65.9202 degSIMBAD · measured
Declination (ICRS)-3.7455 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 3203176408811870592 · 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 · 1999MSS...C05....0H · catalogue identifier/value · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Effective temperature: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · teff_gspphot · row 3203176408811870592 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Radius: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · radius_gspphot · row 3203176408811870592 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Surface gravity (log g): ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · logg_gspphot · row 3203176408811870592 · model output · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Metallicity [M/H]: ESA Gaia astrometric survey · Gaia DR3 · gaiadr3.astrophysical_parameters · mh_gspphot · row 3203176408811870592 · 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
Eridanus
Hemisphere
Both (equatorial)
Best seen
Winter (N. evening sky)
RA / Dec
4.3947h / -3.7455°

Knowledge connections

  • In constellationEridanus

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.