Star · K0
Gl 438
Gl 438 is a main-sequence star of spectral type K0 in the constellation Centaurus, 35.9 light-years from the Sun.
| Constellation | Centaurus |
|---|---|
| Distance | 35.9 light-years (11.0 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 10.36 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 10.15 |
| Spectral type | K0 |
| Surface temperature | 3,750 K |
| Luminosity | 0.0291 L☉ |
| Radius | 0.405 R☉ |
| Mass | 0.407 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 11h 43m 19.7s |
| Declination (J2000) | −51° 50′ 27″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 44.4 km/s |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 10.36. Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 38° N. South of latitude 38° 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 1990. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 638 thousand years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around Gl 438, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 5.04, 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):
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.