Star · G5V
α Men
α Men is a main-sequence star of spectral type G5V in the constellation Mensa, 33.3 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | Gl 231 · HIP 29271 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Mensa |
| Distance | 33.3 light-years (10.2 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 5.08 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 5.03 |
| Spectral type | G5V |
| Surface temperature | 5,550 K |
| Luminosity | 0.944 L☉ |
| Radius | 1.05 R☉ |
| Mass | 0.986 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 6h 10m 14.6s |
| Declination (J2000) | −74° 45′ 11″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 38.0 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 5.08). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 15° N. South of latitude 15° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in December, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1993. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 591 thousand years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around α Men, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 4.88, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Draco. It would be visible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- COCONUTS-2 A 4.40 light-years
- HIP 31293 4.58 light-years
- HIP 31292 4.58 light-years
- WISE J081117.81-805141.3 5.01 light-years
- GJ 1123 6.64 light-years
- L 98-59 7.08 light-years
- WISE J064723.23-623235.5 7.29 light-years
- 2MASS J03400942-6724051 8.19 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.