61 Cygni

61 Cygni
Location of 61 Cygni (circled)
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Cygnus
61 Cygni A
Right ascension 21h 06m 53.9396s[1]
Declination +38° 44′ 57.902″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 5.21[2]
61 Cygni B
Right ascension 21h 06m 55.2638s[3]
Declination +38° 44′ 31.359″[3]
Apparent magnitude (V) 6.05[4]
Characteristics
61 Cyg A
Evolutionary stage main sequence[1]
Spectral type K5V[2]
U−B color index +1.155[5]
B−V color index +1.139[5]
Variable type BY Dra[6]
61 Cyg B
Evolutionary stage main sequence[3]
Spectral type K7V
U−B color index +1.242[5]
B−V color index +1.320[5]
Variable type Flare star[7]
Astrometry
61 Cygni A
Radial velocity (Rv)−65.97±0.12[1] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: 4,164.209 mas/yr[1]
Dec.: 3,249.614 mas/yr[1]
Parallax (π)285.9949±0.0599 mas[1]
Distance11.404 ± 0.002 ly
(3.4966 ± 0.0007 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)7.506[8]
61 Cygni B
Radial velocity (Rv)−64.59±0.12[3] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: 4,105.976 mas/yr[3]
Dec.: 3,155.942 mas/yr[3]
Parallax (π)286.0054±0.0289 mas[3]
Distance11.404 ± 0.001 ly
(3.4964 ± 0.0004 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)8.228[8]
Orbit[9]
Period (P)707.1+4.5
−4.4
years
Semi-major axis (a)86.76+0.16
−0.15
 au
Eccentricity (e)0.4424+0.0056
−0.0057
Inclination (i)52.99±0.12°
Longitude of the node (Ω)355.73±0.30°
Periastron epoch (T)JD = 2596496+1255
−1213
Argument of periastron (ω)
(secondary)
150.61+0.68
−0.67
°
Details
61 Cygni A
Mass0.6771+0.0052
−0.0051
[9] M
Radius0.667±0.005[10] R
Luminosity0.150±0.004[10] L
Surface gravity (log g)4.63±0.01[10] cgs
Temperature4,398±34[10] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.13±0.03[10] dex
Rotation35.54±0.47[11] days
Age6.1±1.0[12] Gyr
61 Cygni B
Mass0.6289+0.0094
−0.0092
[9] M
Radius0.594±0.008[10] R
Luminosity0.097±0.003[10] L
Surface gravity (log g)4.68±0.02[10] cgs
Temperature4,174±47[10] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.21±0.07[10] dex
Rotation34.55±0.57[11] days
Age6.1±1.0[12] Gyr
Other designations
GJ 820 A/B, Struve 2758, ADS 14636, V1803 Cygni, GCTP 5077.00[13]
61 Cygni A: V1803 Cygni, HD 201091, HIP 104214, HR 8085, BD+38°4343, LHS 62, SAO 70919[6]
61 Cygni B: HD 201092, HIP 104217, HR 8086, BD+38°4344, LHS 63[7]
Database references
SIMBADThe system
A
B

61 Cygni /ˈsɪɡni/ is a binary star system in the constellation Cygnus, consisting of a pair of K-type dwarf stars that orbit each other in a period of about 659 years. Of apparent magnitude 5.20 and 6.05, respectively, they can be seen with binoculars in city skies or with the naked eye in rural areas without light pollution.

61 Cygni first attracted the attention of astronomers when its large proper motion was first demonstrated by Giuseppe Piazzi in 1804. In 1838, Friedrich Bessel measured its distance from Earth at about 10.4 light-years, very close to the actual value of about 11.4 light-years; this was the first distance estimate for any star other than the Sun, and the first star to have its stellar parallax measured. Among all stars or stellar systems listed in the latest Gaia catalogues, 61 Cygni has the sixth-highest proper motion, and the highest among all naked-eye visible stars.[note 1][14]

Over the course of the twentieth century, several different astronomers reported evidence of a massive planet orbiting one of the two stars, but recent high-precision radial velocity observations have shown that all such claims were unfounded.[15] No planets have been confirmed in this stellar system to date.

  1. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference GaiaDR3-a was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference fischer-2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference GaiaDR3-b was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference the internet stellar database-2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference catalano s-1979 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD Query - 61 Cygni A was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD Query - 61 Cygni B was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference kovtyukh-2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference NEID2025 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cite error: The named reference Soubiran2024 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference olspert-2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference kervella-2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD Query - 61 Cygni was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gaia-IoW_20250513 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference Wittenmyer2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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