Universe Guide

VZ Piscis Austrini

VZ Piscis Austrini Facts

VZ Piscis Austrini's Alternative Names

HIP111809 is the reference name for the star in the Hipparcos Star Catalogue. The Id of the star in the Henry Draper catalogue is HD214484.

VZ Piscis Austrini has alternative name(s) :- , VZ PsA.


Location of VZ Piscis Austrini


Radial Velocity and Proper Motion of VZ Piscis Austrini

Proper Motion

All stars like planets orbit round a central spot, in the case of planets, its the central star such as the Sun. In the case of a star, its the galactic centre. The constellations that we see today will be different than they were 50,000 years ago or 50,000 years from now. Proper Motion details the movements of these stars and are measured in milliarcseconds. The star is moving 14.28 ± 0.18 milliarcseconds/year towards the north and 4.31 ± 0.34 milliarcseconds/year east if we saw them in the horizon.

Radial Velocity

The Radial Velocity, that is the speed at which the star is moving away/towards the Sun is 8.00 km/s with an error of about 6.10 km/s . When the value is negative then the star and the Sun are getting closer to one another, likewise, a positive number means that two stars are moving away. Its nothing to fear as the stars are so far apart, they won't collide in our life-time, if ever.

VZ Piscis Austrini Luminosity

Luminosity is the amount of energy that a star pumps out and its relative to the amount that our star, the Sun gives out. The figure of 84.45 that I have given is based on the value in the Simbad Hipparcos Extended Catalogue at the University of Strasbourg from 2012.

Physical Properties (Colour, Temperature) of VZ Piscis Austrini

VZ Piscis Austrini Colour and Temperature

VZ Piscis Austrini has a spectral type of A0V. This means the star is a blue - white main sequence star. The star has a B-V Colour Index of 0.03 which means the star's temperature has been calculated using information from Morgans @ Uni.edu at being 9,140 Kelvin.

VZ Piscis Austrini Radius

Radius has been calculated as being 3.66 times bigger than the Sun. The Sun's radius is 695,800km, therefore the star's radius is an estimated 2,543,870.78.km. If you need the diameter of the star, you just need to multiple the radius by 2. However with the 2007 release of updated Hipparcos files, the radius is now calculated at being round 3.57. The figure is derived at by using the formula from SDSS and has been known to produce widely incorrect figures.

VZ Piscis Austrini Apparent and Absolute Magnitudes

VZ Piscis Austrini has an apparent magnitude of 5.66 which is how bright we see the star from Earth. Apparent Magnitude is also known as Visual Magnitude. If you used the 1997 Parallax value, you would get an absolute magnitude of 0.04 If you used the 2007 Parallax value, you would get an absolute magnitude of 0.09. Magnitude, whether it be apparent/visual or absolute magnitude is measured by a number, the smaller the number, the brighter the Star is. Our own Sun is the brightest star and therefore has the lowest of all magnitudes, -26.74. A faint star will have a high number.

Distance to VZ Piscis Austrini

Using the original Hipparcos data that was released in 1997, the parallax to the star was given as 7.50 which gave the calculated distance to VZ Piscis Austrini as 434.88 light years away from Earth or 133.33 parsecs. It would take a spaceship travelling at the speed of light, 434.88 years to get there. We don't have the technology or spaceship that can carry people over that distance yet.

In 2007, Hipparcos data was revised with a new parallax of 7.70 which put VZ Piscis Austrini at a distance of 423.59 light years or 129.87 parsecs. It should not be taken as though the star is moving closer or further away from us. It is purely that the distance was recalculated.

Using the 2007 distance, the star is roughly 26,787,423.73 Astronomical Units from the Earth/Sun give or take a few. An Astronomical Unit is the distance between Earth and the Sun. The number of A.U. is the number of times that the star is from the Earth compared to the Sun.


Variable Type of VZ Piscis Austrini

The star is a eclipsing binary sys Beta Persei (Algol) variable type which means that its size changes over time. The Variable Type is usually named after the first star of that type to be spotted. VZ Piscis Austrini brightness ranges from a magnitude of 5.723 to a magnitude of 5.675 over its variable period. The smaller the magnitude, the brighter the star. Its variable/pulsating period lasts for 0.2 days (variability).

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Additional VZ Piscis Austrini Facts and Figures

Visual Facts

Primary / Proper / Traditional NameVZ Piscis Austrini
Alternative NamesHD 214484, HIP 111809, VZ PsA
Spectral TypeA0V
Constellation's Main StarNo
Multiple Star SystemNo / Unknown
Star Type Main Sequence Dwarf Star
GalaxyMilky Way
ConstellationPiscis Austrinus
Absolute Magnitude 0.04 / 0.09
Visual / Apparent Magnitude5.66
Naked Eye VisibleYes - Magnitudes
Right Ascension (R.A.)22h 38m 51.46
Declination (Dec.)-33° 04` 53.0
Galactic Latitude-60.84 degrees
Galactic Longitude13.03 degrees
1997 Distance from Earth7.50 Parallax (milliarcseconds)
 434.88 Light Years
 133.33 Parsecs
2007 Distance from Earth7.70 Parallax (milliarcseconds)
 423.59 Light Years
 129.87 Parsecs
 26,787,423.73 Astronomical Units
Galacto-Centric Distance23,937.13 Light Years / 7,339.00 Parsecs
Proper Motion Dec.14.28 ± 0.18 milliarcseconds/year
Proper Motion RA.4.31 ± 0.34 milliarcseconds/year
B-V Index0.03
Radial Velocity8.00 ± 6.10 km/s
Semi-Major Axis9242.00
Stellar Luminosity (Lsun)84.45

Companions (Multi-Star and Exoplanets) Facts

Exoplanet CountNone/Unaware

Variable Star Details

Variable Star ClassEclipsing binary sys
Variable Star TypeBeta Persei (Algol)
Mean Variability Period in Days0.169
Variable Magnitude Range (Brighter - Dimmer)5.675 - 5.723

Estimated Calculated Facts

Radius (x the Sun)3.57
Effective Temperature9,140 Kelvin

Sources and Links

SIMBAD SourceLink

Related Stars

Comments and Questions



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