| Observation data Epoch J2000.0 Equinox J2000.0 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 13h 41m 45.56353s [1] |
| Declination | −33° 35′ 50.5600″ [1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 5.56 –8.44 [2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Evolutionary stage | AGB or post-AGB [2] |
| Spectral type | K0:e-M4II:e [2] |
| Variable type | semiregular [3] |
| Astrometry | |
| Radial velocity (Rv) | +32.6±2.5 [1] km/s |
| Proper motion (μ) | RA: −27.747 mas/yr [1] Dec.: +3.365 mas/yr [1] |
| Parallax (π) | 2.4007±0.0687 mas [1] |
| Distance | 1,360 ± 40 ly (420 ± 10 pc) |
| Other designations | |
| T Cen, CD−32°9549, HD 119090, HIP 66825, HR 5147, SAO 204739 [4] | |
| Database references | |
| SIMBAD | data |
T Centauri is a variable star located in the far southern constellation Centaurus. It varies between magnitudes 5.56 and 8.44 over 181.4 days, making it intermittently visible to the naked eye. [2] Pulsating between spectral classes K0:e and M4II:e, it has been classed as a semiregular variable, [3] though Sebastian Otero of the American Association of Variable Star Observers has noted its curve more aligned with RV Tauri variable stars and has classified it as one. [2]
The variability of the star was discovered in 1894 by Ernest Elliott Markwick, and independently by Williamina Fleming in 1895. [6] [7]
