The primary member is a subgiant star that is somewhat larger than the Sun and has just begun to evolve away from the main sequence as the supply of hydrogen at its core becomes exhausted. It is orbited by a smaller companion star at a mean angular separation of 1.5 arcseconds, which corresponds to a physical separation of about 15 Astronomical Units.[6] This distance is large enough so that the two stars do not have a significant tidal effect on each other. The stars orbit each other over a period of 34.45 years, with a semi-major axis of 1.33" and an eccentricity of 0.46.[7]
Component A has a stellar classification of F9 IV.[3] It has about 2.6 times the radius of the Sun and 1.45 times the Sun's mass. This star is radiating more than six times the luminosity of the Sun at an effective temperature of 5,820 K. The secondary component (Component B) is about the same size and mass as the Sun, with an effective temperature of 5,300 K. Both stars are rotating slowly.[6] There may be a faint third member of this system, although little is known about it.[9]
The dual nature of this system was reported by F. G. W. Struve in 1826.[10] The pair orbit each other with a period of 34.45 years and an eccentricity of 0.46.[7] The magnitude difference between the A-B pair is 1.52 ± 0.04 magnitudes (at 700 nm).[11] Two astrometric studies have failed to detect a third component to the A-B binary.[11][7]
^ abcdJohnson, H. L.; et al. (1966), "UBVRIJKL photometry of the bright stars", Communications of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, 4 (99): 99, Bibcode:1966CoLPL...4...99J
^ abPizzolato, N.; Maggio, A.; Sciortino, S. (September 2000), "Evolution of X-ray activity of 1-3 Msun late-type stars in early post-main-sequence phases", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 361: 614–628, Bibcode:2000A&A...361..614P
^ abcdSöderhjelm, Staffan (January 1999), "Visual binary orbits and masses POST HIPPARCOS", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 341: 121–140, Bibcode:1999A&A...341..121S
^Barry, Don C.; Cromwell, Richard H.; Hege, E. Keith (April 1987), "Chromospheric activity and ages of solar-type stars", Astrophysical Journal, Part 1, 315: 264–272, Bibcode:1987ApJ...315..264B, doi:10.1086/165131
^Zhuchkov, R. Ya.; Orlov, V. V.; Rubinov, A. V. (May 2006), "Multiple stars with low hierarchy: stable or unstable?", Publications of the Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade, 80: 155–160, Bibcode:2006POBeo..80..155Z
^de Mello, G. F. Porto; da Silva, L. (1991), "On the physical existence of the Zeta HER moving group - A detailed analysis of Phi exp 2 Pavonis", Astronomical Journal, 102: 1816–1825, Bibcode:1991AJ....102.1816P, doi:10.1086/116006