Luminosity 65 L☉ Constellation Phoenix | Magnitude 3.94 | |
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Zeta Phoenicis (ζ Phe, ζ Phoenicis) is a B-type main sequence star in the constellation Phoenix. It is visible to the naked eye. Based upon parallax measurements made by the Hipparcos spacecraft, it is located some 300 light years (92 parsecs) away.
Zeta Phoenicis is an Algol-type eclipsing binary star. It consists of two stars that orbit each other: when one passes in front of one another, it blocks some of the other star's light. Therefore, its apparent magnitude fluctuates between 3.9 and 4.4 with a period of 1.66977 days (its orbital period).
The system most likely contains four stars: it has two other telescopic components with an apparent magnitude of 7.2 and 8.2 at an angular separation of 0.8 and 6.4 arcseconds from the main pair. The companion that is 6.4 arseconds away is designated Zeta Phoenicis C, and is an A-type or F-type main-sequence star. A preliminary orbit has been determined, with an orbital period of about 210 years, as well as an eccentricity of about 0.35.