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Star · K2III

α Sct

α Sct is a giant star of spectral type K2III in the constellation Scutum, 184.3 light-years from the Sun.

Other namesHIP 91117
ConstellationScutum
Distance184.3 light-years (56.5 pc)
Apparent magnitudemagnitude 3.85
Absolute magnitudemagnitude 0.09
Spectral typeK2III
Surface temperature4,090 K
Luminosity205 L☉
Radius28.5 R☉
Mass4.15 M☉ (estimated)
Right ascension (J2000)18h 35m 12.4s
Declination (J2000)−8° 14′ 39″
Space velocity (relative to the Sun)91.7 km/s

In the sky

Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 3.85). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 82° N. 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 1842. 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 α Sct, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 8.59, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Monoceros. It would be invisible to the naked eye.

Neighbours

Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):

  • ζ Sct 9.57 light-years
  • HIP 90976 17.7 light-years
  • δ Sct 18.3 light-years
  • HD 167677 18.4 light-years
  • HIP 90565 19.5 light-years
  • HIP 90578 19.7 light-years
  • HIP 91337 19.8 light-years

Open in the simulation

Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.