The 'n' notation in the suffix indicates that the absorption lines in the star's spectrum appear spread out and nebulous because of the Doppler effect from rapid rotation.

[10] Meilland et al. (2007) estimate the pole of the star is inclined by 55° to the line of sight, yielding an equatorial azimuthal velocity of 470 km s−1.

This indicates that emission lines are observed in the spectrum, which is coming from a disk of material ejected from the star because of its rapid rotation.

The results, published in 2005 and 2007, appear to show that Alpha Arae is surrounded by a dense equatorial disk of material in Keplerian (rather than uniform) rotation, and that it is losing mass by a polar stellar wind with a terminal velocity of approximately 1,000 km/s.

[9] It is 5,800 times as luminous as the Sun,[8] its energy emitted from its outer envelope at an effective temperature of 18,044 K.[9] This heat gives Alpha Arae the blue-white hue that is characteristic of B-type stars.

[5] The International Variable Star Index defines it as GCAS + LERI, showing both rapid periodic variation and slow irregular eruptions.