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Star · G8III

η And

η And is a giant star of spectral type G8III in the constellation Andromeda, 259.6 light-years from the Sun.

Other namesHIP 4463
ConstellationAndromeda
Distance259.6 light-years (79.6 pc)
Apparent magnitudemagnitude 4.40
Absolute magnitudemagnitude −0.10
Spectral typeG8III
Surface temperature4,890 K
Luminosity136 L☉
Radius16.3 R☉
Mass3.7 M☉ (estimated)
Right ascension (J2000)0h 57m 12.4s
Declination (J2000)+23° 25′ 04″
Space velocity (relative to the Sun)25.6 km/s

In the sky

Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 4.40). Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 67° S. North of latitude 67° N it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in October, the best time to observe it.

Through a telescope from Earth

Light's journey

The light you see tonight set out around the year 1766. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 4.6 million years.

The Sun seen from there

From a planet around η And, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 9.33, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Hydra. It would be invisible to the naked eye.

Neighbours

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

  • HIP 4301 15.2 light-years
  • 67 Psc 17.9 light-years
  • HD 4203 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.