It is visible to the naked eye with an apparent visual magnitude of +4.68,[2] and is one of the least variable stars known.
The distance to Eta2 Hydri is approximately 221 light-years based on parallax measurements, but it is drifting closer to the Sun with a radial velocity of −18 km/s.
It is located in the clump zone of the HR diagram, which means it has already ascended the red giant branch and is now generating energy by core helium fusion surrounded by a hydrogen fusing shell.
Based on its mass, it was probably a class A star (similar to Vega or Fomalhaut) when it was on the main sequence.
[5] This object has at least 6.3[9] times the mass of Jupiter and is orbiting with a period of 1.95 years.