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AsteriaStar
Main-sequence star · Eridanus

Zibal

Zeta Eridani

Knowledge graphZeta Eri13 EriHR 984HD 20320

Scientific overview

Zibal is a main-sequence star in the constellation Eridanus (Eridani), lying about 109.74 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 typeA5m
Apparent magnitude4.8
Absolute magnitude2.17
Luminosity (Sun = 1)11.858
Colour index (B−V)0.232
Distance109.74 ly (33.65 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 5166714578981717632

Parallax27.395 ± 0.135 masSIMBAD · measured
Distance36.4735 pcGaia · estimated
Proper motion (RA)-2.8 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Proper motion (Dec)46.883 mas/yrSIMBAD · measured
Radial velocity-5.8 ± 4.2 km/sSIMBAD · measured
Spectral typekA4hA9mA9VSIMBAD · catalogued
Right ascension (ICRS)48.9584 degSIMBAD · measured
Declination (ICRS)-8.8197 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 5166714578981717632 · 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 · 2006AstL...32..759G · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Spectral type: Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · sp_type · 2006AJ....132..161G · catalogue identifier/value · 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
3.2639h / -8.8197°

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.