V602 Carinae

rdf:langString V602 Carinae

rdf:langString V602 Carinae

rdf:langString –4.83

rdf:langString

rdf:langString +2.52

rdf:langString Location of V602 Car

rdf:langString M3 Ia-Iab

rdf:langString J2000.0

rdf:langString −5.425

rdf:langString +2.59

rdf:langString V602 Carinae (V602 Car, HD 97671) is a red supergiant and variable star of spectral type of M3 in the constellation Carina. It is one of largest known stars. In 2005, V602 Car was calculated to have a bolometric luminosity below 110,000 L☉ and a radius around 860 R☉ based on the assumption of an effective temperature of 3,550 K. A 2015 study derived a slightly higher bolometric luminosity of 138,000+66,000−45,000 L☉ based on the measured flux and an assumed distance, and a larger radius of 1,050±165 R☉ based on the measured angular diameter and luminosity. An effective temperature of 3,432±280 K was then calculated from the luminosity and radius. More recent measurements based on a Gaia Data Release 2 parallax of 0.4366±0.0698 mas gives a luminosity at 125,000–131,000 L☉ with a corresponding radius of 932 R☉ based on the same effective temperature derived in 2005. V602 Car has an estimated mass loss rate of 1.9×10−6 M☉ per year. An excess of emission at long wavelengths from this star, as well as a small amount of silicate emission, suggests that it may be enclosed by an extensive cloud of dust. V602 Car is a semiregular variable star with a maximum brightness range of magnitude 7.6 - 9.1 and a period of 635 or 672 days. Despite the large amplitude of variation, it was only named as a variable star in 2006.