Zeta Tucanae
Zeta Tucanae, Latinized from ζ Tucanae, is a star in the constellation Tucana. It is a spectral class F9.5 main sequence star. Based upon parallax measurements by the Hipparcos spacecraft, it is approximately 28.0 light years from Earth. This is one of the least variable stars observed during the Hipparcos mission. The star is faintly visible to the naked eye, at an apparent magnitude of +4.23.
Characteristics
Zeta Tucanae is a solar-type star, with similar mass, radius, luminosity, and effective temperature as the Sun, and has an estimated age of 5.3 billion years. Despite having a slightly lower mass, this star is more luminous than the Sun. It is slightly metal-poor, which means the portion of elements heavier than helium is smaller relative to the Sun. The solar-like qualities make it a target of interest for investigating the possible existence of a life-bearing planet.Zeta Tucanae has a rotation period of 15.65 days, and possesses a magnetic activity cycle with period of approximately 950 days.
The components of this star's space velocity are U = −60, V = −4 and W = −38 km/s. These correspond to the velocity toward the Galactic Center, the velocity along
the direction of galactic rotation, and the velocity toward the north galactic pole, respectively. It is orbiting through the galaxy at a mean distance of 8.4 kpc from the Galactic Center and with an orbital eccentricity of 0.16.
Based upon an excess emission of infrared radiation at 70 micrometres, this system is believed to have a debris disk. It is radiating with a maximum temperature of 218 K, corresponding to a minimum distance from the star of 2.3 astronomical units.
As of 2025, no planet has been discovered in orbit around this star.