Star · M2II
HIP 60979
HIP 60979 is a bright giant star of spectral type M2II in the constellation Centaurus, 947.2 light-years from the Sun.
| Constellation | Centaurus |
|---|---|
| Distance | 947.2 light-years (290.4 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 6.00 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −1.31 |
| Spectral type | M2II |
| Surface temperature | 3,770 K |
| Luminosity | 1,090 L☉ |
| Radius | 77.3 R☉ |
| Mass | 6.7 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 12h 29m 57.9s |
| Declination (J2000) | −41° 44′ 09″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 29.4 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 6.00). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 48° N. South of latitude 48° 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 1079. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 17 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around HIP 60979, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 12.14, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Andromeda. It would be invisible to the naked eye.
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.