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Proper NameNone
Bayer DesignationMu Centauri
Flamsteed NumberNone
HR (BSC)5193
HD120324
ConstellationCentaurus
Right Ascension13h 49m 37s
Declination-42° 28' 25"
Distance506 light years
155 parsecs
MagnitudeApparent: +3.5
Absolute: -2.5
Spectral ClassB2IV-Ve blue subgiant
Optimum VisibilityApril / May
NotesMu Centauri belongs to the group known as 'Be' stars, rapidly-rotating blue stars surrounded by circumstellar discs. The disc is fed by material ejected during periodic eruptions from the star, while the star itself is spinning so fast on its axis (estimated at nearly 200 km per second) that it has become deformed into a flattened spheroid shape.

Mu Centauri forms one vertex of a triangle of blue stars within Centaurus. The other members of the triangle are Nu Centauri to the north and Phi Centauri to the east. Imagery provided by Aladin sky atlas

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