In 2005, V602 Car was calculated to have a bolometric luminosity below 110,000 L☉ and a radius around 860 R☉ based on the assumption of an effective temperature of 3,550 K.[9] A 2015 study derived a slightly higher bolometric luminosity of 138,000+66,000 −45,000L☉ based on the measured flux and an assumed distance, and a larger radius of 1,050±165 R☉ based on the measured angular diameter and luminosity. An effective temperature of 3,432±280 K was then calculated from the luminosity and radius.[10] A more recent measurement based on a Gaia Data Release 2 parallax of 0.4366±0.0698 mas gives a luminosity at 125,000–131,000 L☉ with a corresponding radius of 932 R☉ based on the same effective temperature derived in 2005.[11] The radius was measured again in 2024 at 1,015 R☉.[8]
V602 Car has an estimated mass loss rate of 10×10−5M☉ per year.[8] An excess of emission at long wavelengths from this star, as well as a small amount of silicate emission, suggests that it may be enclosed by an extensive cloud of dust.[12]
V602 Car is a semiregular variable star with a maximum brightness range of magnitude 7.6 - 9.1[13] and a period of 635[13] or 672[3] days. Despite the large amplitude of variation, it was only named as a variable star in 2006.[3][13]
^ abcdSamus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; et al. (2009). "VizieR Online Data Catalog: General Catalogue of Variable Stars (Samus+ 2007-2013)". VizieR On-line Data Catalog: B/GCVS. Originally Published in: 2009yCat....102025S. 1. Bibcode:2009yCat....102025S.
^Arroyo-Torres, B.; Wittkowski, M.; Chiavassa, A.; Scholz, M.; Freytag, B.; Marcaide, J. M.; Hauschildt, P. H.; Wood, P. R.; Abellan, F. J. (2015). "What causes the large extensions of red supergiant atmospheres?. Comparisons of interferometric observations with 1D hydrostatic, 3D convection, and 1D pulsating model atmospheres". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 575: A50. arXiv:1501.01560. Bibcode:2015A&A...575A..50A. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201425212. S2CID29210064.
^Humphreys, Roberta M.; Strecker, Donald W.; Ney, E. P. (February 1972), "Spectroscopic and Photometric Observations of M Supergiants in Carina", Astrophysical Journal, 172: 75, Bibcode:1972ApJ...172...75H, doi:10.1086/151329.
^ abcKazarovets, E. V.; Samus, N. N.; Durlevich, O. V.; Kireeva, N. N.; Pastukhova, E. N. (2006). "The 78th Name-List of Variable Stars". Information Bulletin on Variable Stars. 5721: 1. Bibcode:2006IBVS.5721....1K.