Epsilon Mensae

Epsilon Mensae is a single star about 454 light years away in the faint constellation Mensa. It has an apparent magnitude of 5.5, making it visible with the naked eye under good skies.

ε Mensae

Location of ε Mensae (circled)
Observation data Epoch J2000      Equinox J2000
Constellation	Mensa
Right ascension	07^h 25^m 38.10^s[1]
Declination	−79° 05′ 39.1″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)	5.52[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type	K2/3 III[3]
B−V color index	+1.28[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)	+10.82±0.15[1] km/s
Proper motion (μ)	RA: −29.197±0.055[1] mas/yr Dec.: +5.181±0.056[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)	7.1874 ± 0.0449[1] mas
Distance	454 ± 3 ly (139.1 ± 0.9 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)	−0.24[4]
Details
Mass	1.16[5] M☉
Radius	23.0[6] R☉
Luminosity	170[6] L☉
Surface gravity (log g)	1.74[5] cgs
Temperature	4,185[5] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]	−0.01 dex
Rotational velocity (v sin i)	1.8[7] km/s
Other designations
ε Men, HD 60816, HIP 36039, HR 2919, SAO 256415[8]
Database references
SIMBAD	data

This is an orange giant of spectral type K2/3 that has exhausted hydrogen at its core. It is about 1.2 times the mass, 170 times as luminous, and has swollen to 23 times the radius of the Sun. It is expected to end its life as a white dwarf.

References