Star · K5III
η Ara
η Ara is a giant star of spectral type K5III in the constellation Ara, 304.8 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | HIP 82363 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Ara |
| Distance | 304.8 light-years (93.5 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 3.77 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −1.08 |
| Spectral type | K5III |
| Surface temperature | 3,700 K |
| Luminosity | 968 L☉ |
| Radius | 75.6 R☉ |
| Mass | 6.48 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 16h 49m 47.2s |
| Declination (J2000) | −59° 02′ 29″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 22.7 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 3.77). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 31° N. South of latitude 31° 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 1721. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 5.4 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around η Ara, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 9.68, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Camelopardalis. It would be invisible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- HIP 82837 6.15 light-years
- HIP 81661 11.0 light-years
- HIP 83294 11.9 light-years
- HIP 81193 13.5 light-years
- HIP 81561 15.0 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.