Binary star system in the constellation Centaurus
HD 120987 (y Centauri or y Cen) is a star system located in the constellation Centaurus. HD 120987 is a quintuple star system located 50 pc (163 light years) from the Sun. The system has an apparent magnitude of 5.565.[2] Based on the system's parallax, it is located some 172 light-years (52 parsecs) away.[1]
HD 120987 appears to be a single F-type star with the spectral classification F4V, but closer inspection reveals it to be two similar F-type main-sequence stars with spectral classifications of F0V and F1V, respectively.[4] The two orbit each other every 373 years, and are separated by 1.519 arcseconds while taking a very eccentric orbit.[3]
References