Star · G8II
τ Leo
τ Leo is a bright giant star of spectral type G8II in the constellation Leo, 534.1 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | HIP 55945 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Leo |
| Distance | 534.1 light-years (163.7 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 4.95 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −1.12 |
| Spectral type | G8II |
| Surface temperature | 4,740 K |
| Luminosity | 376 L☉ |
| Radius | 28.7 R☉ |
| Mass | 4.94 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 11h 27m 56.2s |
| Declination (J2000) | +2° 51′ 23″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 17.8 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 4.95). Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 87° S. 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 1492. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 9.5 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around τ Leo, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 10.90, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Pisces. 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.