Star · K5
Gl 661A
Gl 661A is a main-sequence star of spectral type K5 in the constellation Hercules, 19.5 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | HIP 84140 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Hercules |
| Distance | 19.5 light-years (5.98 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 9.31 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 10.43 |
| Spectral type | K5 |
| Surface temperature | 3,820 K |
| Luminosity | 0.0206 L☉ |
| Radius | 0.328 R☉ |
| Mass | 0.35 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 17h 12m 07.9s |
| Declination (J2000) | +45° 39′ 58″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 56.3 km/s |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 9.31. Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 44° S. North of latitude 44° N 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 2007. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 346 thousand years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around Gl 661A, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 3.71, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Pictor. It would be visible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- Gl 661B 1.13 light-years
- GJ 625 4.36 light-years
- GJ 3991 5.35 light-years
- Gl 623 6.95 light-years
- WISEPA J174124.26+255319.5 7.50 light-years
- GJ 687 8.20 light-years
- Vega 8.59 light-years
- WISEPA J173835.53+273258.9 8.67 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.