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Star · F5V

η UMi

η UMi is a main-sequence star of spectral type F5V in the constellation Ursa Minor, 97.6 light-years from the Sun.

Other namesGJ 3950A · HIP 79822
ConstellationUrsa Minor
Distance97.6 light-years (29.9 pc)
Apparent magnitudemagnitude 4.95
Absolute magnitudemagnitude 2.57
Spectral typeF5V
Surface temperature6,920 K
Luminosity7.96 L☉
Radius1.96 R☉
Mass1.68 M☉ (estimated)
Right ascension (J2000)16h 17m 30.3s
Declination (J2000)+75° 45′ 19″
Space velocity (relative to the Sun)38.1 km/s

In the sky

Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 4.95). Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 14° S. North of latitude 14° N it never sets.

Through a telescope from Earth

Light's journey

The light you see tonight set out around the year 1928. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 1.7 million years.

The Sun seen from there

From a planet around η UMi, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 7.21, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Mensa. It would be invisible to the naked eye.

Neighbours

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

  • HIP 74045 7.21 light-years
  • HIP 73481 8.17 light-years
  • HIP 78217 8.61 light-years
  • HD 150706 8.84 light-years
  • HIP 75495 10.3 light-years
  • 35 Dra 11.2 light-years
  • HIP 86540 11.2 light-years
  • Gl 632.2A 11.8 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.