| Observation data Epoch J2000 Equinox J2000 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Hydra [2] |
| Right ascension | 09h 22m 50.856s [3] |
| Declination | −09° 50′ 19.66″ [3] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 6.75 [4] |
| Characteristics | |
| Spectral type | Ap EuCrSr [5] |
| U−B color index | +0.11 [6] |
| B−V color index | +0.22 [6] |
| Variable type | α2 CVn |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | 19.6 ± 5.0 km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −27.94 ± 0.61 [3] mas/yr Dec.: −13.01 ± 0.36 [3] mas/yr |
| Parallax (π) | 6.92±0.61 mas [3] |
| Distance | 470 ± 40 ly (140 ± 10 pc) |
| Orbit [7] | |
| Companion | KU Hya B |
| Period (P) | 52.98(37) yr |
| Semi-major axis (a) | 0.169(1)″ |
| Eccentricity (e) | 0.074(8) |
| Inclination (i) | 68.5(6)° |
| Longitude of the node (Ω) | 202.4(4)° |
| Periastron epoch (T) | 2020.20(45) |
| Argument of periastron (ω) (secondary) | 58.7(3.3)° |
| Details [8] | |
| KU Hya A | |
| Mass | 2.07 M☉ |
| KU Hya B | |
| Mass | 2.05 M☉ |
| Other designations | |
| BD−09° 2816, HD 81009, HIP 45999, HR 3724, SAO 136799, A 1342 [5] | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
KU Hydrae is a binary star in the constellation Hydra. The primary star is an Alpha2 Canum Venaticorum variable with its apparent magnitude varying from 0.05 magnitudes over a period of 33.97 days. [8]
This star was discovered to be a visual binary star by Robert Grant Aitken in 1906 and was given the double star designation A 1342. [9] Additional measurements of the position angle and angular separation showed a rapid orbital motion. [10]