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Star · K0II

φ Cap

φ Cap is a bright giant star of spectral type K0II in the constellation Capricornus, 669.0 light-years from the Sun.

Other namesHIP 104963
ConstellationCapricornus
Distance669.0 light-years (205.1 pc)
Apparent magnitudemagnitude 5.17
Absolute magnitudemagnitude −1.39
Spectral typeK0II
Surface temperature4,390 K
Luminosity612 L☉
Radius42.8 R☉
Mass5.68 M☉ (estimated)
Right ascension (J2000)21h 15m 37.9s
Declination (J2000)−20° 39′ 06″
Space velocity (relative to the Sun)14.6 km/s

In the sky

Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 5.17). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 69° N. South of latitude 69° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in August, the best time to observe it.

Through a telescope from Earth

Light's journey

The light you see tonight set out around the year 1357. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 12 million years.

The Sun seen from there

From a planet around φ Cap, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 11.39, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Cancer. It would be invisible to the naked eye.

Open in the simulation

Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.