Star · B9IV
53 Tau
53 Tau is a subgiant star of spectral type B9IV in the constellation Taurus, 273.4 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | HIP 20171 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Taurus |
| Distance | 273.4 light-years (83.8 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 5.50 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 0.88 |
| Spectral type | B9IV |
| Surface temperature | 11,080 K |
| Luminosity | 62.1 L☉ |
| Radius | 2.14 R☉ |
| Mass | 2.96 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 4h 19m 26.1s |
| Declination (J2000) | +21° 08′ 32″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 21.9 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 69° S. North of latitude 69° N it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in November, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1753. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 4.8 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around 53 Tau, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 9.45, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Scorpius. It would be invisible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- HIP 19975 12.8 light-years
- 56 Tau 13.0 light-years
- HIP 20369 14.7 light-years
- HIP 19797 15.5 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.