Magnitude 3.93 Apparent magnitude (V) 3.93 | Constellation Volans | |
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Similar Epsilon Volantis, NGC 2442/2443, AM 0644‑741, Epsilon Carinae, Alpha Trianguli Australis | ||
Zeta Volantis (ζ Vol, ζ Volantis) is a binary star system in the southern constellation of Volans. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 3.93, which is bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. Based upon parallax measurements, it is approximately 141 light years from the Sun. The companion is a magnitude 9.7 star at an angular separation of 16.7″. Based upon their motion through space, this system made its perihelion passage some 858,000 years ago when it came within 22 ly (6.6 pc) of the Sun. It is currently moving away with a radial velocity of 48 km/s.
The primary component is K-type giant star with a stellar classification of K0 III. It has a derived luminosity of around 53 times that of the Sun. The measured angular diameter of this star is 2.32±0.06 mas. At the estimated distance of Zeta Volantis, this yields a physical size of about 11 times the radius of the Sun. The expanded outer envelope has an effective temperature of 4,721 K, giving it the orange glow of a K-type star.