The stellar classification of Kappa Andromedae is B9 IVn, indicating that it is a subgiant star in the process of evolving away from the main sequence. The star has an estimated 2.8[6] times the mass of the Sun and is radiating 78.5[7] times the Sun's luminosity. It is spinning rapidly, with a projected rotational velocity of 162 km/s. Its true rotational velocity is 283.8 km/s, which is about 85% of its critical rotation rate (the rate at which it would break up).[6] With such a rapid rotation rate, the star is deformed into an oblate spheroid, such that while the polar radius is 1.959 R☉, the equatorial radius is significantly larger, at 2.303 R☉.[6] The outer envelope of the star is radiating energy into space with an effective temperature of 10,342 K at the equator and 12,050 K at its poles, producing a blue-white hue.[6]
The age of Kappa Andromedae has been the subject of debate. The discovery paper for Kappa Andromedae b[12] argued that the primary's kinematics are consistent with membership in the Columba Association, which would imply a system age of 20-50 million years, while a subsequent work derived an older age of 220±100 million years based on the star's position on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram position [7] assuming that the star is not a fast rotator viewed pole-on. Direct measurements of the star later showed that Kappa Andromedae A is in fact a rapid rotator viewed nearly pole-on[6] and yield a best-estimated age of 47+27 −40 million years.
Planetary system
In November 2012, members of the Strategic Explorations of Exoplanets and Disks with Subaru (SEEDS) survey reported the discovery of a faint, directly-imaged companion Kappa Andromedae b.[12] Follow-up photometry and spectroscopy of kappa And b with the Subaru Telescope, Keck Observatory, and Large Binocular Telescope constrained its mass to be about 13 Jupiter masses, temperature to be between 1700 K and 2150 K, and orbit to be highly eccentric with a semimajor axis likely greater than about 75 AU. The companion's spectrum shows evidence for water and carbon monoxide molecules and suggests the object has a low surface gravity.[13][14][15]
^ abcdHarmanec, P.; et al. (1980), "Photoelectric photometry at the Hvar Observatory. IV - A study of UBV variations of a group of bright northern Be stars", Bulletin of the Astronomical Institutes of Czechoslovakia, Bulletin, 31 (3): 144–159, Bibcode:1980BAICz..31..144H
^Cowley, A.; et al. (April 1969), "A study of the bright A stars. I. A catalogue of spectral classifications", Astronomical Journal, 74: 375–406, Bibcode:1969AJ.....74..375C, doi:10.1086/110819
^ abPalmer, D. R.; et al. (1968), "The radial velocities spectral types and projected rotational velocities of 633 bright northern A stars", Royal Observatory Bulletin, 135: 385, Bibcode:1968RGOB..135..385P
^ abcdHinkley, Sasha; Pueyo, Laurent; Faherty, Jacqueline K.; Oppenheimer, Ben R.; Mamajek, Eric E.; Kraus, Adam L.; Rice, Emily L.; Ireland, Michael J.; David, Trevor; et al. (September 2013). "The Kappa Andromedae System: New Constraints on the Companion Mass, System Age & Further Multiplicity". The Astrophysical Journal. 763 (2): L32. arXiv:1211.3744. Bibcode:2013ApJ...763L..32C. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/763/2/L32. S2CID119253577.