Star · B9IV
η Cha
η Cha is a subgiant star of spectral type B9IV in the constellation Chamaeleon, 320.8 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | HIP 42637 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Chamaeleon |
| Distance | 320.8 light-years (98.3 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 5.46 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 0.50 |
| Spectral type | B9IV |
| Surface temperature | 11,590 K |
| Luminosity | 96.5 L☉ |
| Radius | 2.44 R☉ |
| Mass | 3.35 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 8h 41m 19.5s |
| Declination (J2000) | −78° 57′ 48″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 23.3 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 5.46). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 11° N. South of latitude 11° S it never sets.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1705. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 5.7 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around η Cha, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 9.79, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Cepheus. It would be invisible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- HIP 42794 1.25 light-years
- HIP 41048 5.36 light-years
- HIP 45829 15.8 light-years
- HIP 38259 19.4 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.