Kappa Aurigae
Kappa Aurigae is a star in the northern constellation of Auriga. Its name is a Bayer designation that is Latinised from κ Aurigae, and is abbreviated Kappa Aur or κ Aur. This star is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of 4.3. Based upon an annual parallax shift of, it is approximately distant from Earth. This is a high proper motion star, traversing the celestial sphere at an angular rate of yr−1. It is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +21 km/s.
This is an evolved giant star with a stellar classification of G8.5 IIIb. It is a red clump star, which means it is towards the cool end of the horizontal branch and is generating energy through the fusion of helium at its core. The star is 5.6 billion years old and is spinning with a projected rotational velocity of 2.5 km/s. With 1.25 times the mass of the Sun, Kappa Aurigae has expanded to 11 times the radius of the Sun and shines with 54 times the Sun's luminosity. This energy is radiated into outer space from the photosphere at an effective temperature of. At this heat, the star glows with the orange hue of a G-type star.