Tau Ceti
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Tau Ceti
Location of Tau Ceti
Tau Ceti (highlighted center) in the southern part of the constellation Cetus.
Observation data
Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000
Constellation Cetus
Pronunciation /ˌtaʊ ˈsiːtaɪ/
Right ascension 01h 44m 04.0829s[1]
Declination −15° 56′ 14.928″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 3.50 ± 0.01[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type G8.5 V[1]
U−B color index +0.22[1]
B−V color index +0.72[1]
Variable type None
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv) −16.4[1] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −1721.94[1] mas/yr
Dec.: 854.17[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π) 273.96 ± 0.17[2] mas
Distance 11.905 ± 0.007 ly
(3.65 ± 0.002 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV) 5.69 ± 0.01[2]
Details
Mass 0.783 ± 0.012[2] M☉
Radius 0.793 ± 0.004[2] R☉
Surface gravity (log g) 4.4[3]
Luminosity 0.52 ± 0.03[4] L☉
Temperature 5,344 ± 50[5] K
Metallicity 22–74%[3][6]
Rotation 34 days[7]
Age 5.8[8] Gyr
Other designations
Durre Menthor,[9][10] 52 Ceti, HD 10700, HR 509, BD-16°295, GCTP 365.00, GJ 71, LHS 146, LTT 935, LFT 159, SAO 147986, LPM 84, FK5 59, HIP 8102.[1]
Tau Ceti (τ Cet, τ Ceti) is a star in the constellation Cetus that is spectrally similar to the Sun, but only has about 78% of the Sun's mass. At a distance of just under 12 light years from the Solar System, it is a relatively close star. Tau Ceti is metal-deficient and so is thought to be less likely to host rocky planets. Observations have detected more than 10 times as much dust surrounding Tau Ceti as is present in the Solar System. The star appears stable, with little stellar variation.
Astrometric or radial velocity measurements have not yet detected companions around Tau Ceti, but given current search refinement, this only excludes substellar companions such as large brown dwarfs. Because of its debris disk, any planet orbiting Tau Ceti would face far more impact events than the Earth. Despite this hurdle to habitability, its solar analog (Sun-like) characteristics have led to widespread interest in the star. Given its stability and similarity to the Sun, Tau Ceti is consistently listed as a target for the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI), and it appears in some science fiction literature.
Unlike other prominent stars, Tau Ceti does not have a widely recognized traditional name.[nb 1] It can be seen with the unaided eye as a faint third-magnitude star.[nb 2] As seen from Tau Ceti, the Sun would be a third-magnitude star in the constellation Boötes.[nb 3]how to sell a business
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