Tau Centauri
Star in the constellation Centaurus
title: "Tau Centauri" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["a-type-main-sequence-stars", "centaurus", "bayer-objects", "bright-star-catalogue-objects", "durchmusterung-objects", "henry-draper-catalogue-objects", "hipparcos-objects"] description: "Star in the constellation Centaurus" topic_path: "science/astronomy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tau_Centauri" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Star in the constellation Centaurus ::
| name = τ Centauri | image = | image=Centaurus constellation map.svg | float=center | width=280 | position=right | mark=Red circle.svg | mark_width=10 | mark_link=τ Cen | x=710 | y=600 | caption = Location of τ Centauri (circled) | epoch = J2000.0 | equinox = J2000.0 (ICRS) | constell = Centaurus | ra = | dec = | appmag_v = +3.86 | type = | class = A0 V or A1 IVnn | b-v = +0.06 | u-b = +0.04 | r-i = | variable = | radial_v = | prop_mo_ra = −186.081 | prop_mo_dec = −6.757 | pm_footnote = | parallax = 24.2953 | p_error = 0.53 | parallax_footnote = | absmag_v = +0.83 | source = | mass = 2.31 | radius = 2.7 | luminosity = 39 | temperature = | gravity = | metal_fe = | rotational_velocity = | age_myr = 132 | names = | Simbad = tau+Cen Tau Centauri is a solitary star in the southern constellation of Centaurus. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinized from τ Centauri, and abbreviated Tau Cen or τ Cen. This star is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of +3.86. The distance to this star, based upon an annual parallax shift of , is 131 light years. It makes a star system with Gamma Centauri at 98% probability, both separated by 0.53 pc.
This is an A-type star with stellar classifications of A0 V or A1 IVnn, indicating it may be a main sequence star or a more evolved subgiant star. It is around 132 million years old and is spinning rapidly with a projected rotational velocity of 296.8 km/s. This is giving the star an oblate shape, with an estimated equatorial girth that is 30% larger than the polar radius. The star has an estimated 2.3 times the mass of the Sun and 2.7 times the Sun's radius.
References
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| title=tau Cen | access-date=2017-01-13 }}
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