Star · K1III
Alkes
Alkes is a giant star of spectral type K1III in the constellation Crater, 160.1 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | α Crt · HIP 53740 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Crater |
| Distance | 160.1 light-years (49.1 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 4.08 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 0.62 |
| Spectral type | K1III |
| Surface temperature | 4,560 K |
| Luminosity | 84.3 L☉ |
| Radius | 14.7 R☉ |
| Mass | 3.23 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 10h 59m 46.5s |
| Declination (J2000) | −18° 17′ 56″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 121.4 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 4.08). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 72° N. South of latitude 72° S 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 1866. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 2.8 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around Alkes, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 8.29, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Pegasus. It would be invisible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- HIP 53172 5.98 light-years
- GJ 9336 9.57 light-years
- HIP 52649 10.5 light-years
- 2MASS J11124910-2044315 11.0 light-years
- 2MASS J11060459-1907025 11.1 light-years
- HIP 52997 11.1 light-years
- HIP 52990 12.3 light-years
- HIP 54804 13.7 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.