Star · M
Gl 431
Gl 431 is a main-sequence star of spectral type M in the constellation Centaurus, 35.1 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | HIP 56244 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Distance | 35.1 light-years (10.8 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 11.55 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 11.39 |
| Spectral type | M |
| Surface temperature | 3,600 K |
| Luminosity | 0.0116 L☉ |
| Radius | 0.276 R☉ |
| Mass | 0.272 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 11h 31m 46.4s |
| Declination (J2000) | −41° 02′ 47″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 37.7 km/s |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 11.55. Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 49° N. South of latitude 49° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in March, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1991. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 623 thousand years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around Gl 431, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 4.99, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Andromeda. It would be visible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- WISE J111239.24-385700.7 4.24 light-years
- Gl 442A 4.97 light-years
- Gl 442B 5.01 light-years
- 2MASSW J1155395-372735 5.06 light-years
- WISE J114156.71-332635.8 5.88 light-years
- Gl 432B 6.16 light-years
- Gl 432A 6.16 light-years
- Gl 438 6.85 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.