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Tau Ceti
Location of Tau Ceti
Location of Tau Ceti
Tau Ceti (circled) in the south of the constellation Cetus.
Observation data
Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation Cetus
Pronunciation /ˌt ˈst/
Right ascension 01h 44m 04.08338s
Declination −15° 56′ 14.9262″
Apparent magnitude (V) 3.50 ± 0.01
Characteristics
Spectral type G8 V
U−B color index +0.21
B−V color index +0.72
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−16.68±0.05 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −1721.05 mas/yr
Dec.: +854.16 mas/yr
Parallax (π)273.96 ± 0.17 mas
Distance11.905 ± 0.007 ly
(3.650 ± 0.002 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)5.69±0.01
Details
Mass0.783±0.012 M
Radius0.793±0.004 R
Luminosity0.52±0.03 L
Luminosity (visual, LV)0.45 L
Surface gravity (log g)4.4 cgs
Temperature5,344±50 K
Metallicity28±3% Sun
Metallicity [Fe/H]−0.55±0.05 dex
Rotation34 days
Age5.8 Gyr
Other designations
52 Cet, BD−16° 295, FK5 59, GJ 71, HD 10700, HIP 8102, HR 509, SAO 147986, LFT 159, LHS 146, LTT 935

Tau Ceti, Latinized from τ Ceti, is a single star in the constellation Cetus that is spectrally similar to the Sun, although it has only about 78% of the Sun's mass. At a distance of just under 12 light-years (3.7 parsecs) from the Solar System, it is a relatively nearby star and the closest solitary G-class star. The star appears stable, with little stellar variation, and is metal-deficient.

Observations have detected more than ten times as much dust surrounding Tau Ceti as is present in the Solar System. Since December 2012, there has been evidence of possibly five planets orbiting Tau Ceti, with two of these being potentially in the habitable zone. Because of its debris disk, any planet orbiting Tau Ceti would face far more impact events than Earth. Despite this hurdle to habitability, its solar analog (Sun-like) characteristics have led to widespread interest in the star. Given its stability, similarity and relative proximity to the Sun, Tau Ceti is consistently listed as a target for the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) and appears in some science fiction literature.

It can be seen with the unaided eye as a third-magnitude star. As seen from Tau Ceti, the Sun would be a third-magnitude star in the northern hemisphere constellation Boötes.

Name