Star · K3III
51 Hya
51 Hya is a giant star of spectral type K3III in the constellation Hydra, 171.1 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | HIP 70306 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Hydra |
| Distance | 171.1 light-years (52.5 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 4.78 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 1.18 |
| Spectral type | K3III |
| Surface temperature | 4,120 K |
| Luminosity | 72.6 L☉ |
| Radius | 16.7 R☉ |
| Mass | 3.09 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 14h 23m 05.8s |
| Declination (J2000) | −27° 45′ 14″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 61.7 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 4.78). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 62° N. South of latitude 62° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in April, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1855. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 3.0 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around 51 Hya, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 8.43, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Aries. It would be invisible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- HIP 70330 2.80 light-years
- HIP 69249 10.1 light-years
- HIP 71516 11.0 light-years
- HIP 70839 11.2 light-years
- HIP 71122 11.9 light-years
- HIP 72353 16.3 light-years
- HIP 68374 17.5 light-years
- HIP 70525 17.5 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.