Star · K1III
HIP 56656
HIP 56656 is a giant star of spectral type K1III in the constellation Centaurus, 235.7 light-years from the Sun.
| Constellation | Centaurus |
|---|---|
| Distance | 235.7 light-years (72.3 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 5.14 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 0.85 |
| Spectral type | K1III |
| Surface temperature | 4,500 K |
| Luminosity | 71.6 L☉ |
| Radius | 13.9 R☉ |
| Mass | 3.08 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 11h 37m 00.5s |
| Declination (J2000) | −61° 17′ 00″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 78.4 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 5.14). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 29° N. South of latitude 29° 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 1790. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 4.2 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around HIP 56656, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 9.12, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Cassiopeia. It would be invisible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- HIP 56966 13.2 light-years
- HIP 57285 14.0 light-years
- θ¹ Cru 19.0 light-years
- HIP 57473 20.0 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.