Star · A0
Sirius
Sirius is a main-sequence star of spectral type A0 in the constellation Canis Major, 8.60 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | α CMa · Gl 244A · HIP 32349 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Canis Major |
| Distance | 8.60 light-years (2.64 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude −1.44 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude 1.45 |
| Spectral type | A0 |
| Surface temperature | 10,010 K |
| Luminosity | 30.9 L☉ |
| Radius | 1.85 R☉ |
| Mass | 2.42 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 6h 45m 08.9s |
| Declination (J2000) | −16° 42′ 58″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 17.6 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude −1.44). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 73° N. South of latitude 73° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in December, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 2017. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 153 thousand years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around Sirius, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 1.94, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Hercules. It would be visible to the naked eye.
Neighbours
Its nearest neighbours in the catalogue (within 20 light-years):
- Gl 244B 0.11 light-years
- WISE J085510.83-071442.5 4.71 light-years
- Gl 280B 5.22 light-years
- Procyon 5.26 light-years
- Ross 614 5.53 light-years
- Gl 234B 5.53 light-years
- UGPS J072227.51-054031.2 5.53 light-years
- Luyten's Star 5.73 light-years
Position, brightness and colour from the HYG / AT-HYG catalogue; temperature, luminosity, radius and mass are approximate values computed from these observations.