Star · K3III
51 Leo
51 Leo is a giant star of spectral type K3III in the constellation Leo, 183.3 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | HIP 52686 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Leo |
| Distance | 183.3 light-years (56.2 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 5.50 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 1.75 |
| Spectral type | K3III |
| Surface temperature | 4,440 K |
| Luminosity | 32.5 L☉ |
| Radius | 9.62 R☉ |
| Mass | 2.46 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 10h 46m 24.6s |
| Declination (J2000) | +18° 53′ 30″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 28.6 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 5.50). Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 71° S. North of latitude 71° N it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in March, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1843. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 3.3 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around 51 Leo, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 8.58, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Aquarius. It would be invisible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- HIP 52891 6.86 light-years
- HIP 51579 11.2 light-years
- HIP 51171 15.3 light-years
- HIP 53923 17.0 light-years
- HIP 52120 18.1 light-years
- HIP 53225 18.4 light-years
- HIP 53822 19.1 light-years
- HIP 52514 19.6 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.