Magnitude 4.4 Apparent magnitude (V) 4.4 | Constellation Puppis | |
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Omicron Puppis (Omicron Pup, ο Puppis, ο Pup) is multiple star system in constellation of Puppis, with an apparent magnitude of +4.40. The primary component is a blue B-type subgiant. It is approximately 2470 light years from Earth.
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Naming
The correct Bayer designation for ο Puppis has been debated. Lacaille assigned one Greek letter sequence for the bright stars of Argo Navis. These Lacaille designations are now shared across the three modern constellations of Carina, Puppis, and Vela so that the same Greek letter is not usually found in more than one of the three. However, ο (omicron) is commonly used for stars in both Puppis and Vela. Some authors contend that Lacaille actually assigned a Latin lower case 'o' to this star, while others suggest that ο Velorum should actually be a lower case 'o'.
In Chinese, 弧矢 (Hú Shǐ), meaning Bow and Arrow, refers to an asterism consisting of ο Puppis, δ Canis Majoris, η Canis Majoris, HD 63032, HD 65456, k Puppis, ε Canis Majoris, κ Canis Majoris and π Puppis. Consequently, ο Puppis itself is known as 弧矢五 (Hú Shǐ wǔ, English: the Fifth Star of Bow and Arrow.)
Variability
ο Puppis is slightly variable. The General Catalogue of Variable Stars lists it as a possible Be star with a magnitude range of 4.43 - 4.46. The International Variable Star Index classifies it as a Lambda Eridani variable.
Runaway star
Omicron Puppis is moving through the Galaxy at a speed of 26.9 km/s relative to the Sun. Its projected Galactic orbit carries it between 24,800 and 32,000 light years from the center of the Galaxy.
Omicron Puppis came closest to the Sun 8.7 million years ago when it had brightened to magnitude 3.99 from a distance of 1,162 light years.