Star · K2III
τ Oct
τ Oct is a giant star of spectral type K2III in the constellation Octans, 479.6 light-years from the Sun.
| Other names | HIP 115836 |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Octans |
| Distance | 479.6 light-years (147.0 pc) |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 5.50 |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −0.34 |
| Spectral type | K2III |
| Surface temperature | 4,160 K |
| Luminosity | 283 L☉ |
| Radius | 32.4 R☉ |
| Mass | 4.56 M☉ (estimated) |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 23h 28m 03.8s |
| Declination (J2000) | −87° 28′ 56″ |
| Space velocity (relative to the Sun) | 39.2 km/s |
In the sky
Visible to the naked eye under a dark sky (apparent magnitude 5.50). Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 3° N. South of latitude 3° S it never sets.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 1546. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 8.5 million years.
The Sun seen from there
From a planet around τ Oct, the Sun would look like a star of magnitude 10.67, in the direction where our sky has the constellation Ursa Minor. 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.