# Delta Pavonis
**Delta Pavonis** (δ Pavonis, δ Pav) is a nearby subgiant star in the southern constellation Pavo, lying about 19.92 light-years from Earth[1](https://asteriastar.com/stars/delta-pavo). SIMBAD classifies it as a high proper motion star with spectral type G8 IV[2](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=Delta+Pavonis), and its proximity and similarity to the Sun have made it a recurring target in discussions of nearby Sun-like stars and habitable-zone planets[3](https://chview.nova.org/solcom/stars/dpavonis.htm).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Spectral type | G8 IV (subgiant); Hipparcos lists G5IV-Vvar, and older surveys give G5-8 V-IV[2](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=Delta+Pavonis) • [4](https://www.heavens-above.com/hipentry.aspx?alt=14&cul=en&hip=99240&lat=32.436196&lng=-80.723507&loc=Burton&tz=CET) • [3](https://chview.nova.org/solcom/stars/dpavonis.htm) |
| Distance | About 19.92 light-years from Earth[1](https://asteriastar.com/stars/delta-pavo) |
| Parallax | 163.73 ± 0.65 mas (Hipparcos, 1997)[2](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=Delta+Pavonis) |
| Apparent magnitude | V = 3.56; full UBVRIJHK magnitudes from U = 4.78 to K = 2.04[5](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=Delta+Pavonis&protocol=html) |
| Proper motion | +1211.761 mas/yr in right ascension, −1130.237 mas/yr in declination (ICRS, Gaia)[2](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=Delta+Pavonis) |
| Other designations | HD 190248, HIP 99240, HR 7665, GJ 780, LHS 485, CD-66 2367, SAO 254733[5](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=Delta+Pavonis&protocol=html) |
## Stellar properties
Delta Pavonis sits at the boundary between main-sequence dwarf and subgiant classification. The SIMBAD basic data record gives G8 IV, a temperature class with luminosity class IV indicating a subgiant[2](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=Delta+Pavonis), while the [Hipparcos](https://www.edgepedia.org/hipparcos) catalog entry lists G5IV-Vvar, a type spanning dwarf and subgiant with a variability flag[4](https://www.heavens-above.com/hipentry.aspx?alt=14&cul=en&hip=99240&lat=32.436196&lng=-80.723507&loc=Burton&tz=CET). An older survey description calls it a yellow-orange star of spectral and luminosity type G5-8 V-IV[3](https://chview.nova.org/solcom/stars/dpavonis.htm). These classifications agree in placing the star slightly more evolved than a dwarf like the Sun; a modern observing guide describes it as a nearby Sun-like but more evolved yellow subgiant[6](https://www.pretoria-astronomy.co.za/pdf/observing_targets.pdf).
The star's distance is well measured. The Hipparcos parallax of 163.73 milliarcseconds, with a mean error of 0.65, corresponds to the roughly 19.9 light-year distance quoted in modern summaries[2](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=Delta+Pavonis) • [1](https://asteriastar.com/stars/delta-pavo). Its large proper motion, over 1,100 milliarcseconds per year in each coordinate, reflects this proximity and earned it the SIMBAD object type of high proper motion star[2](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=Delta+Pavonis).
At visual magnitude 3.56, Delta Pavonis is bright enough to see with the naked eye under dark skies[5](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=Delta+Pavonis&protocol=html). Its infrared magnitudes, J = 2.45, H = 2.11, and K = 2.04, are brighter than its visual magnitude, as expected for a cool yellow-orange star[5](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=Delta+Pavonis&protocol=html).
## Similarity to the Sun
Because of its relative proximity and spectral similarity to the Sun, Delta Pavonis has been an object of interest among astronomers[3](https://chview.nova.org/solcom/stars/dpavonis.htm).
The star has been observed across the spectrum: SIMBAD logs 14 observations with the [International Ultraviolet Explorer](https://www.edgepedia.org/international-ultraviolet-explorer) (IUE), 5 with the [Infrared Space Observatory](https://www.edgepedia.org/infrared-space-observatory) (ISO), and 4 with Herschel[5](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=Delta+Pavonis&protocol=html). Its metallicity parameters are carried in the Gaia DR3 astrophysical parameters table[1](https://asteriastar.com/stars/delta-pavo).
## Observation and catalog history
The star carries a long list of catalog designations accumulated across surveys: HD 190248 in the [Henry Draper](https://www.edgepedia.org/henry-draper) catalog, HR 7665 in the Bright Star catalog, HIP 99240 and HIC 99240 from Hipparcos, GJ 780 from the Gliese-Jahreiss nearby-star catalog, LHS 485, and entries in the CD, CPD, SAO, 2MASS, Tycho, NLTT, PPM, and Gaia catalogs[5](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=Delta+Pavonis&protocol=html). SIMBAD's bibliographic survey records 434 references to the star between 1850 and 2026[5](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=Delta+Pavonis&protocol=html).
In the Mount Stromlo adopt-a-star program, Delta Pavonis is listed among the stars of Pavo with a magnitude range of 3-4[7](https://rsaa.anu.edu.au/observatories/mount-stromlo-observatory/stromlo-adopt-a-star-program/pavo-pegasus).
## References
1. [Delta Pavonis, Asteria Star](https://asteriastar.com/stars/delta-pavo)
2. [Delta Pavonis, SIMBAD basic data, CDS](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=Delta+Pavonis)
3. [Delta Pavonis, ChView](https://chview.nova.org/solcom/stars/dpavonis.htm)
4. [Hipparcos Star Catalog Entry for delta Pavonis, Heavens-Above](https://www.heavens-above.com/hipentry.aspx?alt=14&cul=en&hip=99240&lat=32.436196&lng=-80.723507&loc=Burton&tz=CET)
5. [Delta Pavonis, SIMBAD detailed object page, CDS](https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=Delta+Pavonis&protocol=html)
6. [The COLOUR of CREATION, Pretoria Astronomy](https://www.pretoria-astronomy.co.za/pdf/observing_targets.pdf)
7. [Pavo, Pegasus, Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics, ANU](https://rsaa.anu.edu.au/observatories/mount-stromlo-observatory/stromlo-adopt-a-star-program/pavo-pegasus)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Physical world and mathematics › Astronomy › Stars and galaxies › Stellar astrophysics, structure, evolution, and variables › Stellar classification and star types › Subgiant stars*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 15, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Oct 15, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license