V344 Carinae is a single B‑type main‑sequence star in the southern constellation of Carina. It bears the Bayer designation f Carinae and the variable‑star designation V344 Carinae. The star exhibits a blue‑white hue and is visible to the naked eye, with an apparent visual magnitude that varies between +4.43 and +4.52, averaging around +4.50.
Astrometric data
- Right ascension (J2000): 08 h 46 m 42.54928 s
- Declination (J2000): −56° 46′ 11.1922″
- Proper motion: RA −9.29 mas yr⁻¹, Dec +8.85 mas yr⁻¹
- Parallax: 5.39 ± 0.14 mas, corresponding to a distance of approximately 610 ± 20 light‑years (≈ 186 ± 5 pc).
- Radial velocity: +27.0 ± 7.4 km s⁻¹
Physical characteristics
- Spectral type: B3 V (n) – a hot, blue‑white main‑sequence dwarf.
- Color index (B–V): −0.169 ± 0.008.
- Mass: 7.1 ± 0.1 M☉.
- Radius: 3.00 ± 0.06 R☉.
- Luminosity: ≈ 2 300 L☉ (2 328 +120 −105 L☉).
- Effective temperature: 17 660 ± 560 K.
- Surface gravity (log g): 3.79 ± 0.18 (cgs).
- Projected rotational velocity (v sin i): 268 ± 18 km s⁻¹, indicating rapid rotation.
- Age: 31.6 ± 3.9 Myr, placing it among relatively young massive stars.
Variability
V344 Carinae is classified as a Be variable star, meaning it shows emission lines in its spectrum that arise from a circumstellar gas disk, a phenomenon commonly linked to its rapid rotation. The star’s visual magnitude fluctuates modestly (≈ 0.09 mag) due to this activity.
Historical notes
The star appears in Ptolemy’s Almagest, suggesting that it was observed as early as 130 BCE and may have been somewhat brighter at that time.
Catalog identifiers
- HD 75311 (Henry Draper Catalogue)
- HIP 43105 (Hipparcos Catalogue)
- HR 3498 (Harvard Revised Catalogue)
- FK5 2695 (Fifth Fundamental Catalogue)
- SAO 236268 (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Star Catalog)
- CPD −56° 1865 (Cape Photographic Durchmusterung)
- GC 12138 (Boss General Catalogue)
V344 Carinae is a well‑studied example of a hot, massive, rapidly rotating Be star, providing insight into stellar evolution, mass loss, and circumstellar disk dynamics among early‑type main‑sequence objects.