Star · F3IV
λ Ara
λ Ara is a subgiant star of spectral type F3IV in the constellation Ara, 68.4 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | Gl 686.2 · HIP 86486 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Ara |
| Distance | 68.4 light-years (21.0 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 4.76 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 3.15 |
| Spectral type | F3IV |
| Surface temperature | 6,800 K |
| Luminosity | 4.65 L☉ |
| Radius | 1.55 R☉ |
| Mass | 1.47 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 17h 40m 23.9s |
| Declination (J2000) | −49° 24′ 56″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 20.5 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 4.76). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 41° N. South of latitude 41° S 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 1958. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 1.2 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around λ Ara, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 6.44, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Auriga. It would be visible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- DENIS-P J1756561-480509 3.68 light-years
- WISE J174102.78-464225.5 4.93 light-years
- GJ 4012 6.37 light-years
- η Sco 10.8 light-years
- Gl 654.3 11.3 light-years
- HIP 90945 12.3 light-years
- Gaia J171340.47-395211.8 13.2 light-years
- HIP 81262 15.1 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.