Star · F2III
η Cru
η Cru is a giant star of spectral type F2III in the constellation Crux, 64.2 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | Gl 455.2 · HIP 59072 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Crux |
| Distance | 64.2 light-years (19.7 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 4.14 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 2.67 |
| Spectral type | F2III |
| Surface temperature | 7,140 K |
| Luminosity | 7.3 L☉ |
| Radius | 1.77 R☉ |
| Mass | 1.64 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 12h 06m 52.9s |
| Declination (J2000) | −64° 36′ 49″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 13.9 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 4.14). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 25° N. South of latitude 25° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in March, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1962. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 1.1 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around η Cru, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 6.30, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Cassiopeia. It would be visible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- HIP 62229 9.65 light-years
- GJ 3759 11.2 light-years
- Gl 503A 11.4 light-years
- Gl 472 12.5 light-years
- Gl 429.4 13.7 light-years
- DENIS-P J1253108-570924 13.8 light-years
- CWISE J113717.27-532007.9 14.1 light-years
- GJ 2092 14.3 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.