This ordinary G-type main-sequence star is considered a solar analog, having physical properties sufficiently similar to the Sun. It has a stellar classification of G5 V[2] and is around 4.5 billion years old. The mass is similar to the Sun, although it is cooler and has a lower luminosity. Due to this similarity, HD 172051 has been selected as an early target star for both the Terrestrial Planet Finder and Darwin missions, which seek to find an Earth-like extrasolar planet.[11] During a search for brown dwarf companions using the Hale Telescope in 2004, two candidate companions were identified at angular separations of 5″ and 6″. However, these were determined to be background stars.[12]
^Corben, P. M.; Stoy, R. H. (1968), "Photoelectric Magnitudes and Colours for Bright Southern Stars", Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa, 27: 11, Bibcode:1968MNSSA..27...11C.
^ abTakeda, Genya; et al. (February 2007), "Structure and Evolution of Nearby Stars with Planets. II. Physical Properties of ~1000 Cool Stars from the SPOCS Catalog", The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 168 (2): 297–318, arXiv:astro-ph/0607235, Bibcode:2007ApJS..168..297T, doi:10.1086/509763, S2CID18775378