The stellar classification of GJ 849 is M3.5V,[4] which means this is a small red dwarf star generating energy through hydrogen fusion at its core region. Various studies have found super-solar abundances in the spectra,[8] indicating that the elemental abundances of higher mass elements is significantly higher than in the Sun. The star has about half the mass and size of the Sun,[3] and is spinning slowly with a rotation period of approximately 39 days.[9] The estimated age of the star is more than three billion years.[3] It is radiating a mere 2.9%[5] of the luminosity of the Sun from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 3,490 K.[5]
Planetary system
In late 2006, a long-period Jupiter-like exoplanet was reported to be orbiting the red dwarf in a period just over 5 years in length. There was also a linear trend in the radial velocities which suggested another longer period companion.[3] The trend in the radial velocities was confirmed in 2013.[10] An orbit for the second exoplanet was finally determined in 2015. The first planet discovered, Gliese 849 b, was the first planet discovered orbiting a red dwarf with a semi-major axis greater than 0.21 AU.[8]
^Suárez Mascareño, A.; et al. (September 2015), "Rotation periods of late-type dwarf stars from time series high-resolution spectroscopy of chromospheric indicators", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 452 (3): 2745–2756, arXiv:1506.08039, Bibcode:2015MNRAS.452.2745S, doi:10.1093/mnras/stv1441, S2CID119181646.
