Alpha Pavonis

2100 L ☉

Pavonis α ( Alpha Pavonis ) is the brightest star in the constellation peacock. It has an apparent magnitude of 1.94 mag and is just south of the 32nd degree of north latitude visible. It belongs to the spectral type B2 IV, which characterized him as a blue subgiant. Its distance is about 180 light-years. α Pavonis is a spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of 11.8 days, which suggests a separation of the two components of only 0.21 AU.

α Pavonis is also called Peacock. This is not a traditional name, but the name is of modern origin: He was α Pavonis awarded in the late 1930s, when a navigational almanac for the Royal Air Force was created. 57 stars of the new almanac had two - ε Carinae and α Pavonis - no traditional name, so for them new names - Avior and ( after the constellation ) Peacock (English " Peacock" ) - were invented.