Star · B2V
α Ara
α Ara is a main-sequence star of spectral type B2V in the constellation Ara, 267.3 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | HIP 85792 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Ara |
| Distance | 267.3 light-years (82.0 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 2.84 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −1.73 |
| Spectral type | B2V |
| Surface temperature | 12,220 K |
| Luminosity | 831 L☉ |
| Radius | 6.43 R☉ |
| Mass | 6.2 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 17h 31m 50.5s |
| Declination (J2000) | −49° 52′ 34″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 29.2 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 2.84). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 40° N. South of latitude 40° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in June, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1759. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 4.7 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around α Ara, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 9.40, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Auriga. It would be invisible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- HIP 86652 10.6 light-years
- HIP 84956 15.6 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.