It has an apparent visual magnitude of +2.35[2] and is located at a distance of around 306 light-years (94 parsecs).

This emission can be modelled by a decretion disk of gas that has been ejected from the star by its rapid rotation and now follows a near-Keplerian orbit around the central body.

[13] Eta Centauri has about 12 times the mass of the Sun,[7] placing it above the dividing line between stars that evolve into white dwarfs and those that turn into supernovae.

It is radiating 8,700[4] times the luminosity of the Sun from its outer atmosphere at an effective temperature of 25,700 K.[4] At this temperature, the star glows with the blue-white hue common to B-type stars.

[15] In traditional Chinese astronomy, Eta Centauri was known as 庫樓二[16] (meaning: the Second (Star) of Koo Low).